KNIGHT WATCH

GOOD FOR THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER?

Skin cancer has increased among young adults. During the years 1970-2009 the Mayo Clinic found melanoma increased eightfold among young women and fourfold among young men ages 18-39. Although men have a higher lifetime melanoma risk, the use of tanning beds has increased the risk for young women. Tanning beds can give 7 times the UV radiation as the sun. In 2009 the International Agency of Research on Cancer declared tanning beds carcinogenic. In fact, the risk of cancer from tanning beds is equal to the risk of cancer from smoking. Shouldn’t this fact make tanning salons less “tantalizing”?

Women have more migraines than men. In fact, migraines affect 3 times as many women as men, with 25% of women having had a migraine. According to Dr. Andrew Charles, Director of UCLA’s Headache Research and Treatment Program, a migraine is a wave of electrical activity that travels across the brain. Although many things trigger migraines – sounds, light, smells and movement – the main trigger is hormone fluctuation. Migraines are slightly more common in boys until girls begin menstruation. Then the number of migraines increases dramatically in girls as they grow into women – helping to explain why menstruation is called “the curse”.

One or two drinks daily may be good for the long-time survival of men who’ve had a heart attack. This was the finding of a study published in the European Heart Journal that followed approximately 1,800 male heart attack survivors. Men who drank about 2 alcoholic drinks daily had a 42% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular problems and a 12% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. However, it isn’t clear whether women would experience similar results – which seems “hard to swallow” because the study was done at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

However, European researchers analyzed more than 100 studies looking at the relationship between alcohol and breast cancer. They found up to 1 drink daily increased breast cancer risk 4%. Three or more drinks increased the risk 40%-50%. The American Cancer Society recommends women not have more than 1 drink daily. Because of the decrease in coronary heart disease with moderate drinking, the American Heart Association sees alcohol as beneficial; but also recommends women not have more than 1 drink. Based on her risk for different illnesses, each woman must decide for herself whether she can “drink to her own health”.

 

COULD WE DROWN IN THE "RIPPLE EFFECT"?

American teens are waiting longer to drive. According to the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, 33% of licensed drivers were under age 30 in 1983. In 2008 it was 22%. Sixty-nine percent of 17-year-olds were licensed in 1983. In 2008 it was 50%. Although a weak economy, high unemployment, a growing migration of young people to urban areas where cars are less necessary and the high cost of owning a car have contributed to the change, the Internet is a big factor Yes, the high-tech social interaction that drives some parents crazy is driving their teens … not to drive.

Maybe all Americans should try to avoid driving on “tax day”. The last day to file federal taxes usually falls on April 15, but on whatever day it falls the risk of fatal crashes increases 6%. That’s according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Explanations include stress, sleep deprivation and greater consumption of alcohol. Not even electronic filing has decreased the risk – which doesn’t just apply to late filers. Everyone driving is at an increased risk throughout the day. Perhaps car manufacturers could develop a solution to this increase in fatal crashes – “tax breaks”.

More co-habitating American couples are having children. That’s according to a 2002-2010 National Center for Health Statistics survey. The data from 22,000 interviews showed co-habitating couples accounted for 22% of first births – up from 12%. There was also an increase in the number of women who started having children after age 35 and had two or more. However, some things haven’t changed. The mean age of women having their first child is 23. It’s 25 for men. Also women, on average, are still having 2.1 children. Expecting statisticians to round down to the nearest whole number  - 2 – is “pointless”.

More schools are serving dinner. In 2012 more and more families are depending on schools to feed their children breakfast, lunch and now dinner. In just the past few years a federally subsidized dinner program spread from 6 states to all 50. Because of the recession, the number of “food insecure” households went from 36 million in 2007 to 49 million in 2010. This isn’t just urban poverty; it’s rural and small-town poverty too. It’s increasing numbers of suburban food banks. Rush Limbaugh denounced school dinners as part of the “nanny state” – but Rush Limbaugh can “eat his words”. 

 

ARE THEY THE WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS?

Stan Brock dropped out of school at age 16, followed his parents from England to British Guiana, herded cattle and became co-host of “Wild Kingdom” – a 1960’s-1980’s television program. When he was injured on a ranch in the Amazon rainforest, he was 350 miles from a doctor. Although he recovered on his own, he got a pilot’s license and a small plane to bring medical care to the people and animals he worked with. In 1985 he started the nonprofit “Remote Area Medical”. As of 2012 the all-volunteer group has held more then 660 clinics worldwide that provided free health care to 500,000 people. Not bad for an “indigent C.E.O.”. 

Lenny Robinson is a 48-year-old father of three. In 2007 he sold his industrial cleaning business he’d started in high school and became Batman – complete with $5,000 custom-made Batman outfit and $250,000 black Lamborghini Batmobile. No, Robinson didn’t have a midlife crisis. He visits ill children in hospitals throughout Maryland and Washington, giving away $25,000 worth of Batman souvenirs that he autographs. Each time Robinson wears the 40-pound outfit he loses 5-6 pounds of water weight; but what he “gains” are smiles from the children, whom he calls the real superheroes.

Jake Wood, a 28-year-old ex-Marine, went to Haiti in 2010 to help with earthquake relief. In response to his Facebook post, 7 other men went with him. Over the next 3 weeks more than 60 volunteers joined them and set up triage centers. In 2012 Woods heads a nonprofit with more than 1,400 volunteers – 80% being military veterans – and has conducted 14 missions including an earthquake in Chile, the flooding in Pakistan and the tornados in Alabama and Missouri. Wood’s group is called Team Rubicon – “crossing the Rubicon” meaning passing a point of no return. However, Team Rubicon returns.

Then there’s Paul Sammut, a 25-year-old engineer. During the day he researches and builds underwater robots and vehicles. In his spare time he invented an alarm clock for those reluctant to get up. There’s no snooze button. If you unplug it, a battery takes over; and as wake-up time approaches, you can’t reset the alarm time. To stop its clanging you have to go into the kitchen or a bathroom and punch the day’s date into a telephone-style keypad. Of course, you could stop the alarm by smashing the clock; but because it costs $350, that itself would be “alarming”.

 

DO WE ASK ENOUGH QUESTIONS?

What are super foods? The term was coined in 2004 by Dr. Steven Pratt in his first book. According to Dr. Pratt, a super food has 3 qualifications: it is available to the public, it contains nutrients known to enhance longevity and its health benefits have been backed up by scientific studies. Berries (even frozen berries) help fight cancer. So does broccoli. Salmon and nuts lower the risk of heart disease. Green tea helps you burn more fat. Eggs help prevent fat from being absorbed in the liver. Move over Batman and Spiderman. Dr. Pratt may be the newest “super hero”.

What is NNT? NNT stands for “number needed to treat”. In a clinical study if the NNT is 6, it would mean when 6 people were treated, 1 benefited. If the NNT is 50, it would mean when 50 people were treated, 1 benefited. Writing that heart attacks decreased because of a therapy or that a new drug showed improvement over rival drugs is too vague. When percentages are used to quantify medical benefit, the reader doesn’t know 17% or 83% of what – 10, 86 or 1,092 people treated. When everyone treated benefits, the NNT is 1 – which could be spelled “won”.

Why do our eyelids get heavy when we’re sleepy? The muscles that power our eyelids – levator, Mullers and frontalis – are tiny fibers. After a day of reading, working on computers, etc., these muscles have muscle fatigue; and they fatigue more easily in darker environments. Rubbing our eyes is our attempt to revive them. The “massage” increases blood flow in the area and gets rid of fatigue-caused waste materials by washing them into the lymph system. Tired eyes look puffy because when muscles are used a lot, a lot of blood flows through. Hopefully, this information is an “eye-opener”.

How do blind people dream? People who have been blind since birth haven’t seen and thus they don’t see images in their dreams. For those who lose their sight in middle childhood, dreams can be visual or non-visual; and those who become blind later in life continue to have some images in their dreams – but that can fade in time. Dreams are about what the brain experiences. Blind people’s brains experience the other senses. For them a dream about baseball would be comprised of smells, sounds, taste and touch. However, whether we’re blind or sighted, information eliminates “blind spots”.

 

IS HEALTH A NUMBERS GAME?

There are 6 signs you need more sleep. One, you persistently feel you’re not hungry or you constantly want to eat more. Two, it’s difficult to focus on what you’re doing. Three, your short-term memory is impaired. Four, you can’t carry on a conversation.  Five, you struggle to stay awake when driving or doing something else that is dangerous. Six, you feel sick because your immune system isn’t strengthening during sleep. Because sleep deprivation can lead to problems like high blood pressure, obesity and depression, sleep is as vital for survival as food. Lack of sleep will “eat you up”.

There is 1 type of food that has been linked to depression – fast food. A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition looked at approximately 9,000 people for about 6 years. At the beginning of the study none of the participants were diagnosed with depression. At the end of the study almost 500 had depression. Those who ate the most hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, fries and also baked goods were 51% likelier to develop clinical depression than those who ate the least. When it comes to fast food, the solution is in its name. We should fast.

There are 5 health problems linked to height. Taller women have an increased risk of 10 cancers including breast, ovarian and skin cancer. Taller men have an increased risk of prostate cancer. Type 1 diabetes – also known as juvenile diabetes – is linked to taller children except during infancy and early adolescence. Shorter people have a 50% greater risk of fatal heart disease. They also have a greater risk of serious stroke. Alzheimer’s has been linked to age and genetics, but it’s also linked to shorter people. Although there aren’t specific explanations for these links, there’s a “heightened awareness”.

Finally, according to the American Cancer Society, 2 things we consume don’t increase cancer risk – coffee and artificial sweeteners in the amount people typically consume. However, 5 things we consume require caution. More than 1 alcoholic drink daily for women and 2 for men increase cancer risk. So do sugary foods and beverages. Red and processed meats increase the risk of cancer too – especially colon cancer. In fact, meat, poultry and fish should be baked, broiled or poached - not fried or charbroiled. Nevertheless, for non-smokers the biggest risk for cancer is being overweight. The numbers on the scale are the most important numbers.

 

IN WHAT DIRECTION ARE AMERICANS GROWING?

The average American household spends its money differently than in 1949. In the following breakdown the percentages in parentheses are for 1949. According to NPR’s “Planet Money”, in 2011 the average American household spent 15.3% (40%) of its income on food, 41% (26.1%) on housing, 3.6% (11.7%) on clothes, 16.9% (7.3%) on transportation, 6% (5%) on recreation, 7.1% (3.2%) on medical care and 10.2% (6.7%) on “other”.  The decreases in food and clothes are attributed to increased production. However, the increases in housing and transportation are attributed to Americans having bigger homes and more cars. Americans have “growing pains”.

American grandparents are more monetarily involved in their grandchildren’s lives. According to a 2011 survey of 1,900 grandparents conducted by AARP, about 50% of them helped with education expenses, 37% with everyday living expenses and 23% with medical or dental expenses. However, some grandparents played an even more substantial role in their grandchildren’s lives. Of the 16% who provided child care, 20% said they did because the parents couldn’t afford to pay for it. Ten percent of the grandparents had grandchildren living with them and 40% of those were the primary caregivers. This survey further explains the “grand” in grandparents.

Multi-generational homes are increasing in number. According to the Census Bureau, in 2010 three or more generations lived in 4.4 million American homes – a 15% increase from 3.8 million in 2008. According to the Pew Research Center, the poverty rate in multi-generational homes was 11.5% in 2009 versus 14.6% in non-multi-generational homes. Although the recession caused doubling up of families to save money, families have found doubling up also saves time and stress. As a result, the National Association of Home Builders predicts more families will want bigger homes. This is the 21st century version of “family planning”.

E-books are increasing in number too and they are increasing the amount of time Americans spend reading. According to the Pew Research Center, about 20% of American adults read an e-book in 2011. On average e-book readers read more books than print readers – 24 books a year versus 15. E-books are more popular for reading in bed; but print books are more popular for lending, borrowing and reading to children. In 2011 nearly 75% of Americans read print books and 11% listened to audiobooks. Then there’s the almost 20% who didn’t read one book of any kind – which gives new meaning to “bookends”.

 

IS HOME WHERE THE HEART IS?

Knoxville, Tennessee is the worst U.S. city for spring allergies. For its 2012 ranking of 100 cities, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America took into account 3 criteria – tree pollen prevalence, number of allergy medications used by residents and number of allergy specialists. Louisville, Kentucky is the second worst city followed by Charlotte, North Carolina; Jackson, Mississippi; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to the AAFA, 40 million Americans suffer from indoor-outdoor allergies as their primary allergy; and allergy is the 5^th leading chronic disease in the U.S. for people of all ages. Obviously, these numbers are “nothing to sneeze at”.

Cincinnati is the U.S. city that had the most bedbug treatments in 2011. In fact, Cincinnati and Chicago were also ranked first and second in 2010. According to Rollins, a corporation that owns 7 pest control companies – including Orkin – there was a 33.6% increase in the bedbug business compared to 2010. Detroit moved from fourth to third in the rankings, Denver moved from sixth to fourth and Los Angeles moved from twenty-fifth to fifth. Of the 50 cities that were ranked by Rollins, West Palm Beach/Ft. Pierce, Florida was ranked last. It was the least “bed-eviled”.

Wyoming is the state with the cheapest gasoline. That’s according to a 2012 study by 24/7 Wall St. Colorado is second followed by Montana, South Carolina and Utah. Four factors affect gasoline price. First is proximity to oil fields or pipelines, which affects the cost of transporting crude to refineries. Second is number of refineries. Wyoming has six and Connecticut has none. Third is low cost of living and low median income because states with these can’t sustain higher prices. Fourth is tax. States with low excise tax on gas have lower gas prices. Those four factors take gas out of price “gas-ps”.

Better-educated counties in the U.S. are healthier. A study published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked more than 3,000 counties using more than 30 criteria - including healthcare, smoking, obesity and high school graduates. Overall, the study found heavy drinking was highest in northern states; and teen births, sexually transmitted diseases and children in poverty were highest in southern states. Motor vehicle deaths were lowest in the Northeast and upper Midwest; and unemployment was lowest in the Northeast, Midwest and central Plains. If education makes us healthier, let us “live and learn”.

 

DO GOOD IDEAS HAVE LONG LEGS?

“Absolute Black” silicon wafers have been developed by Natcore Technology. The wafers are to be used in solar panels. They absorb 99.7% of light falling on them, which in 3.7% more than absorbed by solar panels made before 2012. Not only will black silicon improve power output, it will also cost less to make because no hazardous chemicals are necessary. In 2011 solar installations doubled. In 2012 there are enough solar projects planned to power 2 million households. Although solar power is still a small part of America’s energy mix, high oil prices may “shed new light” on the subject.

Red Tomato Pizza launched its VIP-fridge magnet in February 2012 – VIP standing for Very Important Pizza. Users must first register their pizza preference online. The pizza-box-shaped magnet, which has a lift-up lid, connects to any Bluetooth device and sends a message to the restaurant with the preset request. Red Tomato than sends a confirmation text, offering the option to cancel. If customers want a different pizza for their next order, they can edit their choice online. More than 70% of magnet users are repeat customers. Unfortunately, Red Tomato Pizza is in Dubai. For Americans VIP-fridge magnets are still “(pizza) pie in the sky”.

“Start Over Smart” is the first divorce expo in the U.S. It’s the idea of a mother-daughter team – one a family therapist and the other a divorce mediator. Although there are plans to host the expo in cities around the country, the first was held in New York City in April 2012. A one-day ticket cost $75 and a two-day ticket cost $125. Over 100 professionals offered services ranging from counseling, legal and financial expertise to beauty and matchmaking. Considering half of U.S. marriages end in divorce, maybe a “Start Smart” expo would be an even better idea.

A bald Barbie is the result of a Facebook campaign urging Mattel to create a hairless version of the ever-popular doll. A limited edition of a bald “friend of Barbie” will begin in 2013, but the doll will be distributed only in children’s hospitals. It seems Mattel wants to “get the dolls directly into the hands of children who can most benefit from the unique play experience”. However, not making the doll available to other children is missing an opportunity to teach those children that being different isn’t so different. Not selling bald Barbie in retail stores is “bald-erdash”.

 

WHAT COULD YOU DO FOR YOU TODAY?

You could pop popcorn. Popcorn isn’t only low in calories and high in fiber. A report presented to the American Chemical Society found plain popcorn contains almost twice as many polyphenols – also known as antioxidants – as most fruits. Polyphenols are plant-based chemicals that help neutralize harmful substances known as free radicals and help protect against heart disease and other health problems. Popcorn is also a whole grain and whole grains have been linked to lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. However, pre-popped and microwaved popcorn contain ingredients that “wave” goodbye to popcorns’ healthfulness.

You could look at the color green. In a study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 69 people were given 2 minutes to write down uses for a tin can. Before the test half the participants were shown a forest green rectangle for 2 seconds and half were shown a white rectangle. Those who’d seen the green rectangle produced answers that were more creative. The “green effect” continued in challenges with the colors gray, red and blue. Although it’s not known if other shades of green would have the same effect, we could get creative and “see”.

You could take your dog to work. According to a study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, people who took their dogs to work had lower stress levels throughout the workday. However, the stress levels of people who didn’t bring their dogs and non-pet owners increased. In fact, during the weeklong study people borrowed co-workers’ dogs to walk during breaks. Previous studies have shown petting dogs lowers blood pressure and interacting with animals increases oxytocin – a neurotransmitter than increases trust and reduces fear. Of course, without employer consent taking your dog to work is the “tail wagging the dog”.

You could read this standing up. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine was based on data from 22,497 people ages 45 and older. After ruling out such factors as age, education, urban/rural residence, physical activity, body mass index, smoking and self-rated health, the study found people who sat 11 hours or more daily were 40% likelier to die – from any cause. For people who sat 8-11 hours daily the risk was 15% higher than for people who sat less than 4 hours. By sitting less we’ll be healthier – and maybe less likely to “sit in judgment” of others.

 

ARE YOU TOO SLEEPY TO READ THIS?

Southerners have the most trouble sleeping and are the most likely to feel tired during the day. That’s according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine that analyzed sleep problems state-to-state. Thirty-three percent of adults in West Virginia and Mississippi and 25% in Arkansas and Louisiana felt daytime fatigue. Twenty-six percent of West Virginians also slept badly. In the Midwest sleep disturbances were mixed – 25% of the people in Oklahoma and 17% in Minnesota. Californians were among the best rested – 17% had sleep problems and 18% experienced daytime fatigue. Maybe Californians aren’t “laid-back” – maybe they’re asleep.

Sleepiness may cause us to eat more. Research presented to the American Heart Association asked 17 people ages 18-40 to record their eating and sleeping patterns for 3 days at home and 8 days in a lab. Half were allowed to sleep two-thirds of their normal sleep time and half slept their full amount. All were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. Those who got one-third less sleep ate about 549 extra calories daily. Since that amount of extra calories could result in a weight gain of 1 pound weekly, we should “wake up to” the need for sleep.

Sleep apnea may cause depression. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes frequent sleep disruptions. According to a study published in the journal Sleep, men diagnosed with sleep apnea were 2 times likelier than other men to be clinically depressed. Women were 5 times likelier than other women. Although 6% of men and 3% of women have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, more than 80% of the people who reported the classic symptoms – snorting or gasping for breath – hadn’t been diagnosed. Nevertheless, there is good news. Snorers didn’t test positive for depression  – although their partners might.

Sleepiness is a big problem for airline pilots. In a study by the National Sleep Foundation, 25% of 202 pilots surveyed said sleepiness had affected their job performance at least weekly. More than 50% said they took at least 1 nap on workdays. Twenty percent said they had made a serious mistake because of sleepiness and 6% said they’d had a car accident due to sleepiness while commuting. As of December 2011 the Federal Aviation Association issued new rules limiting pilot-duty time. Because the airlines have 2 years to implement these rules, I hope the airlines don’t “fall asleep on the job”.