Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Even though new study reveals that a rectal exam of the prostate alone cannot reliably detect prostate cancer, the exam should not be omitted. —- Leen Naji, MD1, Harkanwal Randhawa, BHSc2, Zahra Sohani, MSc, PhD3, etal. Digital Rectal Examination for Prostate Cancer Screening in Primary Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; Ann Fam Med. 2018;16:149-154.

First portion of program omitted due to file size.  Entire program on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FUpUMmrG-bU •Harriet: aortic stenosis surgery; rheumatic heart disease •Frank: coronary artery surgery; balloon versus laser versus bypass graft   PART TWO Charles Hennekins MD, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA; Professor Harvard Medical School •10 commandments of heart disease prevention •Ruth: P...

Ten medical myths explained and debunked.

Reading a significant other's subtle emotions is challenging for most couples. --- Chrystyna D. Kouros, Lauren M. Papp. Couples'Perceptions of Each Other's Daily Affect: Empathic Accuracy, Assumed Similarity, and Indirect Accuracy. Family Process, 2018; DOI: 10.1111/famp.12344

Wolfing down junk food and convenience store ultra-processed goodies is associated with a higher risk of cancer. --- Consumption of ultra-processed foods and cancer risk: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort; BMJ 2018; 360 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k322  

Eating fish with abundant omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis. --- American Academy of Neurology. "Eating fish may betied to a reduced risk of MS: Study recommends justhow much fish may be beneficial." ScienceDaily.  ScienceDaily, 1 March 2018.

Premies thrive on parent-delivered care versus that from nurse teams. ---- O'Brien, KarelO'Brien, Karel et al.   Effectiveness of Family Integrated Care in neonatal intensive care units on infant and parent outcomes: a multicentre, multinational, cluster-randomised controlled trials  The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health; https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30039-7

Simple screening permits maintenance of bone strength and prevention of handicapping loss of mobility. --- Lee Shepstone, Elizabeth Lenaghan, Cyrus Cooper, etal . Screening in the community to reduce fractures in older women (SCOOP): a randomised controlled trial . The Lancet , 2017; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32640-5

Regular vigorous exercise improves lung function, particularly for current cigarette smokers. ----- Elaine Fuertes, Anne-Elie Carsin, Josep M Antó, et. al. Leisure-time vigorous physical activity is associated with better lung function: the prospective ECRHS study . Thorax , 2018; thoraxjnl-2017-210947 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210947

Breast cancer survivors are at greater risk for heart and lung disease.  Careful monitoring is necessary. --- Laxmi S. Mehta, Karol E. Watson, Ana Barac, Theresa M. Beckie, etal. On behalf of the American Heart Association Cardiovascular Disease in Women and Special Populations Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Quality of...

30 minutes of an 80 minute edited program discussing use of computer programs about health, how to select a health club, Bell’s Palsy, dimples, shingles, biorhythms, prostate cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. The entire 80 minute program may be accessed on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/_fhj6-wberw  

Consistent use of the word "I" reveals negative emotionality. ---------- Allison M. Tackman, David A. Sbarra, Angela L. Carey, M. Brent Donnellan, Andrea B. Horn, Nicholas S. Holtzman, To'Meisha S. Edwards, James W. Pennebaker, Matthias R. Mehl. Depression, negative emotionality, and self-referential language: A multi-lab, multi-measure, and multi-language-task research synthesis. . Journal of Per...

Even repeated mild head trauma can lead to dementia, and it speeds the development of Alzheimers dementia.  Protect your brain! ------ Jeff Schaffert, Christian LoBue, Charles L. White, Hsueh-Sheng Chiang, Nyaz Didehbani, Laura Lacritz, Heidi Rossetti, Marisara Dieppa, John Hart, C. Munro Cullum. Traumatic Brain Injury History Is Associated With an Earlier Age of Dementia Onset in Autopsy-Confirme...

You can use the many over-the-counter allergy medications to treat your own seasonal and perennial environmental allergies.  The strategy is my IPA Gameplan.  Here’s how to use it. Video Podcast: http://bit.ly/2oqD4y6  

How a Cocoa-Caffeine Cocktail and sharpen your mind and strategically timed aerobic exercise can improve your memory. Video Podcast: http://bit.ly/2nsZewD

There is now compelling evidence that soccer heading damages the brain leading to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and mid-life dementia. Helmets do not protect against CTE! Video Podcast: http://bit.ly/2lmRAXe

This year’s flu shot only has a 50-50 chance of preventing you from getting the flu.  Dr. Smith gives you the details PLUS what you can do to keep yourself and your family healthy by using strategies to prevent the flu and manage it should you fall victim. Video podcast:  http://bit.ly/2la8Jz6

Gluten-free diets are becoming increasingly popular, but they may contain agents that may be dangerous.  Learn the details about possible arsenic and mercury poisoning PLUS what you can do to keep yourself and your family healthy by using protective strategies. Video Podcast: http://bit.ly/2lqr3Xd

Liquid laundry detergent in plastic pods attract kids and have triggered an epidemic of eye injuries and other childhood poisonings.  Dr. Smith suggests defensive strategies to keep your children safe. Video podcast:   http://bit.ly/2lVGTaC

Pomegranate juice lowers blood pressure but has numerous other beneficial health effects. Video podcast: https://youtu.be/lL6vxw4mOQQ

Dr. Smith explains how consistent and controlled humidification keeps your respiratory tract healthy.  He reviews why you want a warm and not a cold or ultrasonic humidifier. Video podcast: https://youtu.be/-kG_ziqKE-c

Dr. Howard Smith presents the ABCDE Gameplan, a time-tested strategy for controlling the common cold. Video podcast: https://youtu.be/GcrI309yWJQ

Dr. Smith reviews a study that associates timely birth with better high school grades.   Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/XIXeCaQbyoU

Cardiac arrest victims cared for properly with hypothermia therapy may take longer than the usual 1-2 days to wake up. Video podcast:  https://youtu.be/xFqI2EYGhnI

Preschoolers who have a earlier bedtime are less likely to suffer teen obesity.   Video podcast: https://youtu.be/I_VkhWkQCgI