UF Health Podcasts

Walking up a flight of stairs won’t just get you to the second floor. It might also help get you to your golden years.

The elevator apparently doesn’t stop on that floor.

It’s not surprising that such exercise is healthy. Carrying the groceries up to a third-floor apartment might not sound like a workout at the gym. But taking the stairs works the leg muscles intensively and gets the heart beating faster. And walking up a staircase can be a more convenient way to fit some physical activity into a busy day.

British scientists recently decided to see just how much of a health benefit stair-steppers enjoy. The degree of the boost to the heart in particular raised investigators’ eyebrows.

They analyzed health data from 480,000 adults from their mid-30s into their 80s. The study found that those who habitually climbed stairs were almost 40% less likely to die of heart disease compared with folks who didn’t regularly do so. The risk of dying from any cause was also reduced by 24%.

This was an observational study. So, scientists warn about drawing any conclusions of cause and effect.

One of the study’s authors says the type of movement required to walk up stairs takes nearly 10 times more energy than sitting. Overcoming gravity, they say, is no easy feat. Ask any Saturn Five rocket.

Other exercises like swimming, rowing and bicycling, done vigorously, can probably achieve the same result, the study says. As always, check with a doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen, especially if you face health challenges.

So, don’t pass a stairway by. Save the elevator for the Empire State Building’s observation deck.

I scream, you scream, we all scream … for all kinds of reasons.

Variations in tone and frequency allow humans to express anger, frustration, pain, fear and happiness through the ultimate example of emotion — the scream.

Research from Emory University indicates that most people are fairly good at identifying the reason behind most screams. But screams of joy without context are frequently misidentified as screams of fear.

Some of this, researchers point out, is based in evolution. After all, screams for help — to alert others of danger, and to solicit help — are present across species.

Mistaking a joyful scream for a fearful cry may be an instance of “ancestral carryover bias,” which dictates most people will err on the side of caution, and assume someone is screaming because they are afraid.

Researchers collected recorded screams from television, YouTube videos and movies. Clips ranged from horror movie actors to unscripted, real-time screams.

After parsing through the clips to identify the timbre and pitches associated with different feelings expressed via scream, researchers selected 30 recordings and played them for study participants, asking them to name the emotion conveyed.

Ultimately, although they guessed overall contexts for screams correctly, participants tended to judge screams of “excited happiness” as screams of fear.

Of course, there are times in life where joy and fear are inextricable — like a rollercoaster, or a haunted house.

The next time you’re home and hear a scream, keep in mind it’s not necessarily a reaction to a cockroach — it could be in celebration of a favorite team’s long-awaited winning touchdown.

This serial killer’s body count surpasses the toll of all the world’s wars, terrorism, alcoholism, drugs and a litany of diseases combined. One doesn’t need to visit a remote corner of the planet to be threatened. Looking over your shoulder won’t protect you.

This menace is in the air, water and even the light that leaks through a window at night and interrupts sleep.

A new study by an international team of researchers says that pollution in all its forms kills more people than all other threats to humanity combined. Researchers estimate at least 9 million people die prematurely because of environmental pollution, especially from cardiovascular disease.

The investigation notes the threat isn’t just in the air we breathe. We’re exposed to toxic chemicals in our homes, from the soil and from the nighttime light and noise endemic to modern life.

Lost sleep and stress are thought by scientists to contribute to higher risk of heart disease and shortened lifespans.

The study points to the role of climate change in increasing the risk. Ever more common wildfires, for example, are a threat to air quality. And soaring temperatures often increase smog.

They also note that tens of thousands of chemicals we encounter in our daily lives have not been tested for toxicity.

Investigators urge a call to action. Steps that can help reduce the threat include planting more trees, less reliance on vehicles and greater investment in renewal energy sources like wind and solar.

Pollution isn’t some far-away problem for dwellers of the world’s largest and most polluted cities. Scientists warn this killer is in our own neighborhoods.

There is no place to hide.

Menstruation has never been an easy topic. And why would it be? In the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed that menstrual blood could kill crops and dull mirrors.

Some even held that a menstruating person could shoot “poisonous vapors” from their eyes. Hey, no one said that era was big for science.

A new study from researchers at Harvard, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Apple has found that in the decades since 1950, American girls have been starting their menstrual cycles at a younger age.

The study relied on the Apple Women’s Health Study’s dataset of more than 71,000 participants, who self-reported their health information.

Of those born from 1950 to 1969, the average age of menarche [men-aahr-kee] was 12 years and six months. For those born between 2000 and 2005, the average age was 11 years, nine months.

Another finding: It’s taking longer for menstrual cycles to become regular.

The researchers found all of the trends most pronounced for Black, Hispanic, Asian or mixed-race women, or those who rated themselves as having a lower socioeconomic status.

The researchers don’t know why girls are starting to menstruate earlier, but they have some theories. Childhood obesity, epidemic in the U.S., might be a factor, as could diet, stress, environmental chemicals and air pollution.

They do know it needs to be studied — and talked about — more. Earlier menstruation is associated with a higher risk for health problems like heart disease and cancer, so understanding why is a life-or-death matter.

The good news is that we can talk about the topic today, free of the superstitions of the past.

You finish your workday and start driving home. As you pass through familiar intersections and neighborhoods, perhaps your mind wanders to dinner or what the evening will bring.

A nice, cold beer has often accompanied the start of the evening, for many.

But, according to a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, more Americans aren’t popping a cap but instead, they’re lighting up or vaping when they get home.

In 2022, nearly 18 million people reported daily or near-daily marijuana use. That total was 3 million more than those who reported drinking at the same frequency. Based on four decades of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was the first time the survey recorded more frequent users of cannabis than alcohol.

The survey found that the median drinker self-reported drinking four to five days out of 30 days. That’s compared to marijuana users, who reported they often smoke marijuana 15 to 16 days each month.

Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana programs, and 24 states have approved recreational cannabis use. And marijuana is no longer the drug of choice for the young. The study found marijuana to have slightly more users over 35 years of age than under 35.

Some experts say that medical cannabis is useful for treating chronic pain and nausea. However, much remains unknown about the potential long-term health ramifications. And there are known health consequences, such as increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cannabis use disorder and cognitive impairment.

Experts urge those who choose to use legal marijuana to go to licensed retailers and to aim for occasional — not daily — use.

Your heart takes a licking, and most of the time, it keeps on ticking. But there are several screenings you can get to be sure that it does.

According to the American Heart Association, an important factor in lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease is managing your health behaviors. These include your diet, physical activity, whether you smoke, your body mass index, or B-M-I, blood pressure, total cholesterol and more.

A first step to protecting your heart health: check your blood pressure. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults over age 40 have their blood pressure measured by a health care provider at least once a year. High blood pressure greatly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.

An annual blood test to measure cholesterol is also encouraged. The National Institutes of Health says all adults over age 65 should have an annual blood test to measure their cholesterol. Like high blood pressure, cholesterol can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medication.

If you are overweight or have obesity and are between the ages of 35 and 70, the American Diabetes Association says a blood sugar check every three years is necessary. High blood sugar puts you at a greater risk of developing insulin resistance, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

You can also consider a lipoprotein test or abdominal ultrasound. A lipoprotein test is important if you have a family history of early heart disease, or if you are considering a statin to lower your cholesterol. An abdominal ultrasound is useful for older men who have a history of smoking.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your heart health.

Some of us are lucky enough to see our parents and grandparents enjoy healthy lives well into old age. You’d probably feel as if you’d won the genetic lottery if your 90-year-old parents still managed a round of golf now and then.

On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve all heard someone lament that “they die young in my family.”

A new study reinforces that nothing is preordained when it comes to the genetic sweepstakes. Living a healthy lifestyle remains the essential ingredient in the recipe for longevity, regardless of what’s coded in your DNA.

A study published in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine found that a healthy lifestyle reduced the impact of life-shortening genes by as much as 60%. And for those eating a hot dog and knocking back a beer while watching their elderly parents on the 18th green, consider this:

Regardless of the magic in your genes, the study shows that living unhealthily increases the odds of dying before your time by 78%.

Investigators drew health and lifestyle data from the massive UK Biobank study and its more than 350,000 participants. The Biobank has been used for numerous studies through the years and tracked adults from 2006 to 2021.

The study also examined a person’s diet, smoking, drinking and exercise habits, as well as their genetic profile.

The results suggest we should not assume that we are either doomed or blessed by our inherited biology.

Don’t emulate the sedentary uncle who drank like a fish, denied the existence of vegetables and smoked five cigars daily until dying at age 105.

Outliers always exist. Lifestyle still matters.

The microscopic hitchhikers in our gut might be doing more than catching a ride. They could, on occasion, be driving the car.

Each of us hosts trillions of microbes in our gut. They’re essential for a healthy life, helping us digest food and maintain immunity. But do they have more than a physical impact on our bodies?

Do they also influence our notion of fair play?

That might seem like a stretch. But not to European researchers who investigated whether the bacteria, fungi and other residents of our gut could change social behavior.

They separated 101 participants into two groups. Half played the Ultimatum Game before and after taking probiotics and nutrients for several weeks that promote healthy gut bacteria. The others took a placebo.

The Ultimatum Game is a contest in which one player decides how to split a sum of cash with a second player. The second player can reject or accept the offer. So, one person given $10 might decide to give the second player $2.

Each gets the proposed cash split if the offer is accepted. If it’s rejected, neither gets a penny.

The study found participants taking the probiotic were much more likely to reject an offer than they were before taking the supplement. Not so for the placebo group.

Tests confirmed that the probiotic players had a different ratio of two key bacteria in their gut compared with the control group. Researchers think the altered gut influenced players’ brains, making them more likely to reject a sure cash payment to punish a cheapskate.

The work is a reminder of the complex internal chemistry that affects the mind and body — perhaps with a little help from our friends.

The next time you curse out the driver who cut you off or mutter expletives at the speed demon next to you, consider the fact that the driver might be a sleepy teen.

A National Sleep Foundation study found that the large number of teens who drive while tired poses a serious health concern.

The study surveyed U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 to assess the prevalence, frequency and perceived risk of drowsy driving. They were asked if they had driven while so tired they struggled to keep their eyes open and how often. They were also asked about their beliefs on drowsy driving and what prevented them from getting the necessary sleep to stay alert.

The study found that 1 in 6 teen drivers reported having driven while drowsy and estimated that over 400,000 teens drive drowsy at least once a week. Those with paying jobs were twice as likely to admit to drowsy driving compared with teens who didn’t work.

The study also found that 95% of teens agree that drowsy driving is risky, but they ranked it as having the lowest risk of death or serious injury behind drunk, drugged and distracted driving. In reality, drowsy driving accounts for a large portion of crashes. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 21% of fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver.

Study participants blamed work and school schedules for their lack of sleep. Researchers found that these time demands mean about 1.7 million teens have driven droopy-eyed and are at greater risk for drowsy driving-related consequences.

Vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death among U.S. teens, but accidents caused by drowsy driving are preventable.

Before your teen hits the road, make sure they hit the hay.

Aquatic animals are fascinating, and many opportunities exist for training in a variety of disciplines relating to aquatic animal health. Veterinary students at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine who hope for careers in the field can tailor their curriculum by pursuing a certificate in aquatic animal health; others, including graduate students and other professionals can hone their knowledge in areas such as aquatic animal care and conservation. On this show, Dr. Iske Larkin, director of UF’s Aquatic Animal Health program, will discuss the variety of training opportunities available to those who aspire to work with the intriguing creatures that inhabit our oceans and aquariums.