Dr. Howard Smith Reports

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/om5xW8bg7EE   If you love post-apocalyptic films and tv, your psyche may be better prepared for the emotional turmoil of the CoVid pandemic.   Penn State psychologists in collaboration with two Danish experts on the psychology of horror surveyed 310 persons concerning their psychic resilience during CoVid.   Each participant was also polled about preparedness for the...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/I4IFhivphIM   If you rarely exercise your body, you run the risk of itchy, scaly skin as you age.   This the conclusion of a just-published Swedish study that followed nearly 1.2 million men over a 31 year average followup period.   The men were divided into 3 groups according to their levels of cardiovascular fitness.   The data showed that those with the highest lev...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/9ws7humxWQQ   Early in the CoVid pandemic, concerns arose about using ACE inhibitors and angiogensin receptor blockers (ARBs) since the ACE2 receptor is the entry point for the CoVid virus into human cells.   A just published study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that these drugs are safe and perhaps even helpful.   Penn investigators studied 152 CoVid pa...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/pa5lAcnIG04   Those taking drugs to prevent transplanted organ rejection or the scourge of autoimmune diseases do as well during hospital treatment for CoVid as non-immunosuppressed patients.   Researchers at Johns Hopkins report this finding after studying 2121 patients.   The immunosuppressed patients compared with non-immunosuppressed controls had similar outcomes...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/GOEHV368bss   With the CoVid pandemic raging and shortages of PPE once again occurring, you will want to know how to effectively recycle your N95, KN95, or HEPA masks.   From NY’s Columbia University come do-it-yourself methods that safely and economically eliminate virus while maintaining mask integrity, fit, and filtration parameters.   The investigators found that...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Area-r3AMeQ   Will you soon have a chance to get either the Moderna or the Pfizer mRNA vaccine?   If so, here are some nitty-gritty things that you will want to know about these 95% protective vaccines courtesy of the CDC.   Each vaccine consists of a small fragment of RNA specially formulated so that your body won’t produce an immune response to it.   This RNA is pac...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/ZFWgbAtZs9A   In two cases, cancers in a mother’s cervix were passed to their newborns during a vaginal delivery.   These reports from Japanese pediatric oncologists appeared in a recent New England Journal of Medicine .   One mother was belatedly diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell-neuroendocrine cervical cancer 3 months following her delivery, and her child deve...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/YF3QFYqfPS4   This is my last set of health reports for 2020.   I’ll be back in January with more Health News You Should Use and Health news Capsules covering drug, food, and product safety recalls from the FDA and the CPSC.   When I return, I’ll be broadcasting from a new studio.   Meanwhile, I do hope that you have happy remaining days of Chanukah, a Merry Christmas...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/UlxK36EMGLU   The CPSC and Thermo Tents USA Inc. are recalling 3 tents in the Mór series: Crua Tri, Crua Loj, and Crua Cottage.   These tents are not fire-retardant though labelled as such.   About 260 of these tents were sold online via cruaoutdoors.com, Moosejaw.com, CampSaver.com, Walmart.com, Cabella.com, Basspro.com, and amazon.com .   Stop using these tents arou...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/m-85zttpkyk   The CPSC and the Homfa company have recalled Homfa HPB-087 and HPB-106 Cabinets.   These furniture pieces are unstable unless anchored to the wall, and they may tip over creating entrapment and injuries for children.   They fail to comply with US safety standards.   If you own one, unload it and keep children away from it.   Remove the cabinet’s drawer s...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/dqQ_UC0ZLxU   The CPSC and the Scentsy company are recalling the Scentsy Luminary Jack Warmer and the Scentsy Bless This Home Warmer.   The electrical components within are corroded creating a fire hazard. Apparently a shipping container transporting these products required fumigation due to a cockroach problem, and the chemical used created the damage.   About 7805 o...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/4pF7tueTHsM   The CPSC and the Spirit Halloween company have recalled 3 children’s flashlights: ZAG Miraculous flashlight, the Ghostbusters flashlight, and the My Little Pony flashlight.   The batteries in these flashlights may overheat creating burn and fire hazards.   There were 6100 sold in the US and 380 in Canada.   Immediately take these flashlight away from you...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Cc_4xw7qvkA   The CPSC and Goal Zero are recalling Yeti 25A Fast Charge Power Supply.   The link between the power supply and the output cord can become loose leading to overheating and a fire hazard.   If you have one of the 4500 of these sold, stop using it and contact Goal Zero at 1-888-794-6250 for a free repair.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Goal-Zero-Recal...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/7tidOWhcV10   The CPSC and Grillblazer have recalled the Su-Vgun and Grillgun propane torch guns. Propane could leak from these products leading to fire hazards.   Around 10,000 of the products have been sold online.   If you bought one of these, stop using it and contact Grillblazer at 1-888-267-9022 to receive a free repair.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Grill...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/1-7pXum2ARI   The CPSC and Black and Decker have recalled the CRAFTSMAN® 10-inch corded chain saw, model CMECSP610.   This chain saw may unexpectedly start without pressing the power switch when the extension cord adapter is connected upside down. This poses a severe laceration hazard.   It was sold at Lowe’s and other stores as well as online at amazon.com .   If you...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/ivE2_YyV-ys   The CPSC and LG Sourcing, Inc. are recalling Allen + Roth 62 inch Electric Fireplaces.   These units have wiring connectors that may overheat and lead to a fire hazard.   If you have one of the 48,000 of these sold, stop using it and contact LG Sourcing by calling 1-888-251-1019 to receive a free repair kit and to schedule free in-home repair.   https://...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/PGEErB1sZh4   The CPSC and Fiskars Brands have recalled Fiskars 16 foot Extendable Pole Saw/Pruners.   The telescoping sections of this product may come apart permitting the saw blade and pruner head to fall and create injuries.   More than 467,680 of these have been sold in the Us and 95,000 sold in Canada.   If you own one, stop using it and contact Fiskars Brands a...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/y1sXfgBIqG0   The CPSC and the Neptune Benson Company are recalling Delta Ultra-Violet Generators For Pools and Spas.   This product with the identifier EA-4H-10 lacks sufficient water proofing permitting fluid to leak into the generator with heat buildup and a fire hazard.   If you have one of the 4560 units sold, unplug it and discontinue its use.   Contact Neptune...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/HP9Dgf1hi6Y   The CPSC and the Washington Shoe Company have recalled Western Chief Toddler Boots.   The rivets that attach handles to the boot may detach create a choking hazard for children.   These were sold at Target stores and target.com .   If you have these boots, don’t permit your child to wear them.   Return them to the store for a refund.   For additional inf...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/XTgU0SfjbHk   The FDA and George DeLallo Co., Inc. are recalling Publix Bakery 20 OZ Holiday Cookie Platters.   This product contains undeclared pecans.   Those with pecan allergies run the risk of a serious allergic reactions.   These cookies were distributed by Publix in certain Florida counties, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virgin...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/YK96zGh6izg   The FDA and Market of Choice have recalled Market of Choice Sour Cherry Baked Brie.   This product has undeclared almonds.   Those who are almond allergic could develop serious or life-threatening allergic reactions.   This product was sold at Market Cheese Shops in Ashland, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene, Portland, and West Linn in Oregon.   If you have this p...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/7rAu9zup0xE   The FDA and Flowers Foods, Inc. are recalling Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread and Canyon Bakehouse Everything Bagels.   These products are labeled as Gluten-free but contain gluten.   Those with a gluten or wheat sensitivity or allergy and those with celiac disease could develop gastrointestinal disease or significant allergic reactions.   These pr...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Bk8DrKZVURE   Hydrogen peroxide based cleaning products could raise the levels of that toxin to 610 times its level in fresh air.   Researchers from Syracuse University and the University of Saskatchewan measured gaseous hydrogen peroxide in a chamber designed to simulate residential settings.   Hydrogen peroxide-containing disinfectants represent more than 10% of pro...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/07ruN657MVs   Kids are 79% less likely to spread CoVid to their household members compared with virus-carrying adults.   Australian infectious disease scientists present this conclusion after their study of 213 home transmission clusters living in 12 countries.   Only 3.8% of clusters stemmed from infected children.   The number could be as high as 21% if you only con...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/oDqxU7n77z0   Downing cheese and red wine will keep you sharp as you go through life.   Food scientists from Iowa State University report these findings after analyzing data from 12,787 Brits 46 to 77 years of age.   Participants completed Food Frequency Questionnaires and underwent testing of their ability to think on the spot using he Fluid Intelligence test.   Chee...