DR. JIM PALERMO: Six-Pack of Space Coast Daily Health, Medical Headlines

By  //  March 1, 2016

KEEP MOVING, LIVE LONGER

Topics Include: Dangers of drug-impaired driving; Cell phone can be an instrument of death; Many put pets’ health above their own — and More.

DRUG DRIVING AS DEADLY AS DRUNK DRIVING

A report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, an advocacy group that promotes traffic safety, concluded that drug-impaired driving now causes as many fatal accidents as alcohol-impaired driving,

toking and drivingNevertheless, an increasing number of states, including Florida, are contemplating making marijuana more legally available for medicinal purposes and even in some for recreation.

As reported by CNN, an alarming estimate of 38 pecent of people who die in car crashes have detectable levels of drugs such as marijuana and amphetamines in their system. (Carina Storrs, CNN, 10/01/15)

DON’T SWEAT IT – JUST TAKE THE PILL

exercise-pillPop a pill rather than hopping on the treadmill?

It may sound far-fetched but a team of researchers in Sydney, Australia mapped the cellular reactions to exercise and that could be the first step to an exercise pill(Olivia Goldhill, QZ.com, 10/04/15)

PHOTO-RELATED FATALITIES ON THE RISE

The cultural phenomenon of creating audacious anywhere/anytime selfies has turned the cell phone into an instrument of death.

CNN reports that at least 49 deaths have occurred worldwide over the past 3 years as thrill-seeking individuals tried to get selfie photos in risky situations, such as standing in front of a moving train.

Selfies can be a lot of fun, but it’s imperative to be careful when taking one at the edge of a cliff, or the top of a skyscraper as seen in the video below. (Tanya Basu, CNN, 02/16)




FIRST UTERUS TRANSPLANT IN U.S. BOLSTERS PREGNANCY HOPES OF MANY

The New York Times reports that surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic performed the nation’s first uterus transplant, which could give women with uterine factor infertility a chance to become pregnant.

It is estimated that about 50,000 women in the United States are thought to be candidates for transplanted uteruses. (Denise Grady, New York Times, 02/25)




CONSUMERS TAKE BETTER PREVENTIVE CARE OF PETS THAN THEMSELVES 

images-22 2Probably no surprise, but still, according to a recent report from CIGNA Preventive Care Research, American pets get better than their owners.

The analysis, based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers between 25 and 75 years of age who have health insurance and are the health care decision makers for their families, suggests that Americans are great at doing preventive care for their pets and even their automobiles, but not so much for their own bodies and health. (Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, HealthPopuli.com, 01/18)

KEEP MOVING, LIVE LONGER

A new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise looks at the link between exercise and longevity in the over-50s population.

Seniors Walking the BeachAs reported in Medical News Today, data from around 3,000 people aged 50-79 who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that even among people who exercise, those who spend less time sitting and more time moving around tend to live longer.

Even an extra 10 minutes of light activity per day can make a difference. (Catharine Paddock, Medical News Today, 02/26)