UF Health Podcasts

Every year, when kids are surveyed about their dream jobs, being a veterinarian is near the top of the list. But it takes more than a big heart for animals to get there.

In the United States, veterinary school — like medical school — is a four-year graduate program that follows college. Admission to veterinary school is super competitive: Applicants usually need excellent grades just to get a foot in the door, but experience with animals is also a prerequisite. Leadership skills and community involvement are strong selling points, too.

If you’re a veterinary hopeful, you can’t start the process too early. A keen focus on math and science classes, hands-on animal experience and work with veterinarians are all money in the bank. Speaking of that, routinely contributing to a savings account will help fund the path to your dream goal.

Do animals dream? Some researchers are convinced they do.

After scouring years of research on sleeping animals, they’ve found three categories of evidence. First, in numerous species, the brain’s electrical activity during sleep intermittently mimics that of their awake activities, such as zebra finches singing.

There’s behavioral evidence too. Many chimps taught American Sign Language periodically sign in their sleep.

The anatomic evidence may be the most compelling. There’s a part of the brain that keeps us from literally acting out our dreams. Cats missing that site leap up while asleep and physically perform their dream sequences.

Our dreams have been touted as proof that humans are superior to animals — but maybe that dividing line isn’t so distinct after all.

Exercise is a good way to reduce life’s stresses. It prods the body to produce oxytocin and endorphins, which help regulate mood, emotions and boost social bonding.

Many of us, however, wouldn’t be too keen on squat-thrusting our way to an anxiety-free day.

A recent study offers hope to the exercise averse, pointing to an activity that might not seem like exercise at all — dancing.

As anyone who has ever waltzed the night away can affirm, dancing gets the heart pumping and tests the legs, arms and many of the muscles in-between.

A group of international scientists took the first in-depth look at dancing’s ability to reduce stress. They found that it is extremely effective, to the point that some call it a “stress vaccine.”

Chronic stress has been linked to physical ills. When the troubles in our lives overwhelm, it can contribute to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.

What makes dancing so effective as a stress reliever?

Dance combines several elements that contribute to good mental health. For one, you might have heard that music has charms to soothe a savage beast. Evidence suggests that simply listening to music and its rhythms without moving a muscle relieves anxiety. Music triggers the production of feel-good chemicals.

It helps reduce cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.

The social side of dancing is advantageous. Being with a partner as you glide around the dance floor, or dancing with friends, contributes to a feeling of well-being.

Touch, like linking hands with a partner, also releases chemicals in the brain that modulate stress.

Any exercise benefits the body and the mind. But for a little extra juice, boogie down.

Snake bites are a common problem in veterinary hospital emergency rooms in the summer months, and prompt medical attention can make the difference between life and death. On this show, Dr. Michael Schaer, a professor emeritus of emergency medicine and critical care, will discuss different types of snake bite, the kinds of snakes associated with the most serious bites, and how veterinarians assess and treat snake bite in the ER. He’ll also discuss what pet owners should do if they suspect their animal has been bitten by a venomous snake.

Money talks. And sometimes it tells us to go take a walk.

A team of University of Pennsylvania researchers wanted to study the best ways to

motivate people to walk more.

Their yearlong study involved 1,062 participants, age 67 on average, who had a higher-than-average risk for cardiovascular disease. The study participants already were becoming more active and were averaging about 2.4 miles, or 5,000 steps, a day.

The exercisers were separated into four groups. Everyone got a wearable step-tracking device.

The first group received daily messages about their step counts. The second group was set up like a game, with points lost or won based on meeting step goals. Trophies awaited those who walked most.

A third group was given financial incentives to walk, earning $14 a week for meeting daily step goals but losing $2 if they fell short.

And the fourth group could participate in the game approach and earn the financial incentives.

Perhaps little surprise, but the group that could earn money and win prizes increased their step counts the most. They added about 40 minutes of moderate exercise to their weekly routine and stuck with their increased activity for at least six months after the study.

The researchers said the increased activity would translate to a 10% decline in risk for a cardiovascular-related death.

So if you’re in need of motivation, maybe try one of several gamified exercise apps, which offer gift cards for coffee or other prizes for achieved goals. Some apps feel like an interactive game, with the user unlocking new game levels by meeting fitness challenges.

So get your shoes on, it’s game time.

In today’s world of online influencers and dating apps, people can feel significant pressure to adhere to unrealistic physical standards. For some, this can lead to eating disorders like bulimia, which can cause serious health issues.

Bulimia is most strongly associated with binging and purging. The common perception of those suffering from the condition is that they look frail and unhealthy.

But that’s not necessarily so. Many who struggle with bulimia are at average or above average body weight.

A recent University of Florida study showed how the stereotype of the super-thin bulimia patient has taken hold, even in the medical world.

The researchers recruited a nationwide sample of more than 200 mental health providers to read patient vignettes and choose a diagnosis.

The vignettes described fictitious patients who met the criteria for their respective disorders.

In one vignette, participants were randomly assigned one of two versions: One in which the patient was described as being at a healthy weight, and a second, in which the patient was described as having obesity.

Only about 25% of the providers were able to accurately diagnose bulimia in the patient with obesity.

The researchers said this is because bulimia does not fit in the box popular culture has put it in. Many who have bulimia don’t look sick nor do they purge. They might use excessive exercise to compensate for overeating.

The study’s authors said being able to distinguish between eating disorders is vital because it allows providers to offer the best possible treatment.

Sometimes, a picture — even a mental one — doesn’t tell the whole story.

Your TV has a remote control so that you can channel surf from a sofa on the opposite side of the room. Toilets? Not so much.

It might be time to create a flushing remote. For public toilets, anyway.

Chinese researchers warn that flushing a public toilet might be fraught with danger. That’s because it releases a mist of invisible, bacteria-laden water droplets that can enter our lungs and sicken us.

Investigators say they measured bacterial exposures exceeding World Health Organization safety guidelines. That means public restrooms might pose a higher infection risk, particularly for people with weakened immune systems.

The scientists tested restroom air looking for staph bacteria, which is found on the skin and airways, and E. coli, which lives in our intestines.

Multiple flushes apparently add to the risk, further stirring up a menacing miasma.

It doesn’t take a malfunctioning toilet to release this bacterial cloud. If your mind’s eye pictures an eruption like the Old Faithful geyser, think again. Most of the droplets that carry bacteria are as small as 4.7 micrometers.

That’s smaller than a red blood cell and invisible to the eye. It’s also light enough to float easily on the air and deep into the lungs.

Other studies have shown that even a closed toilet lid can allow aerosols to escape. And, of course, most public toilets are without one.

Researchers note that good bathroom ventilation can help lessen the risk.

Whatever you do, don’t flush and run like a mad bomber scampering away from a lit fuse. Restroom floors can be slippery. One would guess rolling around the bathroom floor is as unhealthy as a flush.

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. For new parents, the idea of traveling for a vacation with a little one might seem impossible.

The truth: It can be frustrating. But it can also be fun, if you plan well.

To travel with a baby or toddler, the key is to stick to one or two destinations. This will help your tyke get settled in and on a schedule more easily. Many small children thrive on routine, so finding the right playground or bringing the right toys and devices will keep your little one happy.

For planes, trains and automobiles, it really depends on your child’s temperament. You will need to be ready to distract, soothe, sing or nurse — and perhaps on a moment’s notice. Pediatricians agree that travel is an acceptable occasion for abandoning the usual screen time rules. Devices help pass the time, especially on longer journeys.

Just like adult passengers, any child can become completely crabby or sleep like, well, a baby during a flight. Diversions, snacks and a change of clothes are just as important as an apologetic smile for neighbors across the aisle.

For your well-being, it is a good idea to sleep when your baby sleeps. You are more likely to have a smooth trip if you follow your little one’s schedule, rather than an adult schedule with a cranky child in tow. Take the nap.

Choose child-friendly restaurants and lodging.

Before departure, be sure to check in with your child’s pediatrician. Consider whether certain vaccines and immunizations are needed based on your destination.

One final note: Bringing extra medications and drinking boiled or bottled water can go a long way in avoiding potential illness.

Have you ever had a very productive morning and then suddenly crashed in the afternoon? The afternoon blahs struggle is real.

Sleepiness is driven by circadian rhythms and sleep pressure. Circadian rhythms are greatly impacted by our environment, causing us to feel awake and alert during daylight and tired when it’s dark. Our internal alarm clock, if you will.

Those who study such things call the phenomenon that the longer we’re awake, the more our bodies crave sleep, “sleep pressure.”

Sleep pressure is lowest when we first wake in the morning. In the afternoon, circadian rhythms and sleep pressure battle each other, and the result is likely a bout of yawning.

When your body digests lunch, blood sugar rises and prompts insulin production. Sugars and carbs are digested quickly, prompting a brief energy surge before the extra insulin in the bloodstream causes sluggishness.

Experts say you can stave off sleepiness in several ways. Sometimes it starts with breakfast. Donuts and sugary beverages in the morning will cause an insulin dump and a midday crash. Try switching to something like eggs or whole-grain oatmeal. Complex carbs take longer to digest, which results in less of an insulin spike.

Another way to fend off Mr. Sandman is to be active. Take a walk when you feel drowsy. Research has long tied physical activity to improved alertness and concentration.

If all else fails, a power nap might bail you out. But it’s important to keep your snooze to 20 minutes or less to avoid grogginess.

The bottom line is, it’s natural to hit an afternoon slump. Don’t kick yourself for it, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new tactics and activities to keep your energy high.

Join us on Animal Airwaves-Live with Dr. Ronald Goncalves, clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care at UF’s Small Animal Hospital, discussing pneumonia in dogs. This potentially life-threatening lung disease requires immediate veterinary attention. Dr. Goncalves will share insights on recognizing warning signs like coughing, labored breathing, and lethargy, plus emergency interventions including oxygen therapy and antibiotics. Learn how prompt action can make a crucial difference in your pet’s recovery from this serious condition, and about a new UF study that dogs with pneumonia may qualify for.