Infotrak

As most of the nation switches from daylight saving to standard time, many people welcome the extra hour of sleep. Lois E. Krahn, MD, psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, explains how time changes affect the body and sleep patterns. She also offers tips to adapt to the schedule change.

Do you practice smart money habits? Your financial decisions today can have a big impact on your future wealth, according to Tom Corley, Certified Financial Planner, and author of “Effort-Less Wealth: Smart Money Habits at Every Stage of Your Life.” He outlines the four ways that any American can become wealthy.

Youth sports can help kids via exercise and the development of socialization skills, but the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on sports programs nationwide. David Soma, MD, Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist at the Mayo Clinic, explains how the risks vary from one sport to another, and what parents and student athletes can do to reduce their chances of contracting the virus during sports activities.

Five major health risks, things such as obesity, high blood pressure and smoking, were linked to over $730 billion in preventable health care spending in the US in 2016. Joseph Dieleman, PhD, from the University of Washington, explains how you can avoid these costly lifestyle choices.

Tragically, the rate of suicide among US military veterans is rising. But why? Farrokh Alemi, PhD, from George Mason University College of Health and Human Services, was surprised when his study revealed that while social factors like family problems and homelessness can predict suicide, they are not the cause of it -- mental illness is.

New research shows that alcohol consumption has soared during the coronavirus lockdowns, with heavy drinking by women up by 41%. Michael Pollard, PhD, Senior Sociologist at the RAND Corporation, explains who was most at risk of binge drinking and why this is a serious and ongoing problem.

There's a digital divide in our country as tens of millions of Americans have no access to broadband internet. Christopher Ali, PhD, from the Department of Media Studies, University of Virginia, says the same huge government effort that brought electricity and telephone service to rural areas in the 1930s and 40s should be applied in a similar way to broadband service today.

In the next ten years, the number of Americans who are both elderly and homeless is expected to triple--and that projection was made prior to the coronavirus. What can be done to address this growing problem? Dennis Culhane, PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, explains why younger members of the boomer generation have remained the dominant homeless population in the United States, and what can be done to address the problem.

They're a common piece of furniture found in homes and offices, but you may not realize the dangers of glass top tables. Stephanie Bonne, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, says the furniture causes thousands of injuries each year, many requiring significant surgeries and long hospital stays.

Ajit Mathew George founded Second Chances Farms, LLC in Wilmington, DE, an organization that employs only convicted felons, training them in entrepreneurship through mentorship programs and green collar jobs at hydroponic, indoor vertical farms in economically distressed communities. He explains how the farms replace recidivism with compassionate capitalism and turn entrepreneurs-in-residence into “Agri-preneurs.”

With COVID-19, Americans are spending more time than ever online--for work, for school, for entertainment and socializing. Stuart Brotman, author of “Privacy's Perfect Storm: Digital Policy for Post-Pandemic Times” says our online privacy is at greater risk than ever. He explains what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Relationships between the sexes can sometimes be confusing, especially so between teenagers. At what point does one person's attraction for another turn into stalking behavior? Dennis E. Reidy, PhD, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Behavioral Scientist in the Division of Violence Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta found that 14% of girls and 13% of boys have been victims of stalking, and that they are much more likely for risky behavior like binge drinking, drug abuse, dating violence and sexting.

Opioid addiction is on the ris,e but intervention programs may be falling short because many are taking multiple substances. Honora Englander, MD, from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine discusses an innovative program that helps.

New research shows that a telemonitoring program to control high blood pressure cuts the risk of heart attack or stroke by about 50 percent, while saving close to $2000 in health costs per patient. Karen L. Margolis, MD, from HealthPartners Institute in Minneapolis explains how the approach differs from typical treatment programs.

Recent research shows more adults are suffering from symptoms of depression. COVID-19 and the lockdowns may be one factor. Catherine Ettman, doctoral student at the Boston University School of Public Health, led a first-of-its-kind study at the Boston University School of Public Health that found that the number of American adults with depression symptoms had tripled as of mid-April, when 96% of the U.S. population was living under some form of COVID-19 lockdown order.

Brain disease has become the number one cause of disability, with Parkinson's the fastest growing disease. Ray Dorsey, MD, from the University of Rochester Medical Center and co-author of “Ending Parkinson's Disease: A Prescription for Action” says there needs to be more focus on prevention. He believes more resources must be placed into research, because while cases are on the rise, the most effective treatment is now a half century old.

The pandemic has affected nearly all Americans. But among the hardest hit are non profit organizations, especially those serving local communities. Danielle Holly, CEO of Common Impact, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston, said the effect has been staggering. She outlined ways that Americans can help, through philanthropic and skilled volunteer support.

Is America’s education system neglecting to teach young students about our nation’s history? Is it important that kids learn about the founding documents of our country? Roger Beckett, Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, says for years, the teaching of history and civics has taken a back seat to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education.

Millions of Americans are quarantined at home. Many feel isolated, and this increases the risk of alcohol abuse. Lisa Boucher, RN, is the author of “Raising the Bottom: Making Mindful Choices in a Drinking Culture.” She shares warning signs and what to do if you need help.

A prototype smart watch has been developed, that will monitor drug levels in your body, in real time. Sam Emaminejad, PhD, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, says it’s wearable technology that will allow doses to be tailored to individual needs.