A national survey of students in the 5th to 10th grades shows that TV viewing is associated with unhealthy eating and bad food choices. The more television kids watch, the worse their diets become.

Researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Md., conclude: “Television viewing time (is) associated with lower odds of consuming fruit or vegetables daily and higher odds of consuming candy and sugar-sweetened soda daily, skipping breakfast at least one day per week and eating at a fast food restaurant at least one day per week…”

Parents be warned: Letting kids watch unlimited television is sending them on a path to an unhealthy diet.

“There is something parents can do,” researcher Ronald Iannotti told The New York Times. “Limit TV time, and make sure healthy snacks, particularly fruits, are available.”

Unfortunately, the same dynamics are often at work in a hospital. But it isn’t your appetite that’s at risk; it’s your health.

Studies at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business show that when hospitals are overflowing, surgery patients are sent home before they’re healthy enough. A shockingly high number of them consequently have to be readmitted to the hospital within three days.

“Discharge decisions are made with bed-capacity constraints in mind,” says researcher Bruce Golden.

“Patient traffic jams present hospitals and medical teams with major, practical concerns, but they can find better answers than sending the patient home at the earliest possible moment,” Golden adds. “Too often, the biggest problem is that hospitals just don’t plan ahead, and this is what gets them in trouble. There are logistical alternatives to sending a patient home too soon.”

Western Dining

When you eat the typical Western diet, emphasizing heavy animal proteins and processed foods, you create acidity that adds to your health woes. Even worse, eating these foods regularly can increase the levels of toxins in your body, while causing significant wear and tear on other systems, particularly digestion. This way of eating is sometimes referred to as the Standard American Diet (SAD). According to many well-documented studies, the SAD produces a chronic low-grade, overly acidic state in the body. By understanding the impact your diet has on your overall health in terms of pH (acid/alkaline) balance, it becomes clear that an alkalizing diet can offer numerous benefits for long-term wellness and vitality.

The Meaning Of pH

You may have heard the term pH and been puzzled about its meaning. pH refers to the “potential of hydrogen.” Hydrogen ions contribute acidity to tissues and organs, such as the contribution of hydrochloric acid to the high acidity of stomach secretions. The scale used to measure pH is a logarithmic scale, which means that there is a tenfold difference between each number — ranging from 1 to 14. The lower numbers (1-6.99) represent the acid (or H+ donating) range and the higher numbers (7.01-14) represent the alkaline (or H+ accepting) range. Neutral is 7.0. Some body systems such as the blood (7.35-7.45) are more strictly regulated in terms of acidity/alkalinity than others. Urine has a broader pH range, from 4.5-8.0, which makes it an ideal body fluid for keeping track of adjustments and changes in pH.

Acid/Alkaline Levels In The Body

A nourishing diet is one of the single most important factors in health and healing. The body works hard to maintain specific acid/alkaline levels in its various organs, tissues and fluids. The very controlled range of pH balance found within different systems of the body includes:

• Blood: 7.35-7.45 pH
• Muscle: 6.1 pH
• Liver: 6.9 pH
• Gastric juice: 1.2-3.0 pH
• Saliva: 6.35-6.85 pH
• Urine: 4.5-8.0 pH
• Pancreatic juice: 7.8-8.0 pH

Many of our key systems and organs including the kidneys, lungs, bones and others have homeostatic mechanisms in place to respond to pH changes and readjust alkaline/acid levels as needed. A chronically acidic state can tax these homeostatic mechanisms, contributing to a number of chronic degenerative conditions such as gastrointestinal issues, osteoporosis, kidney disease, cardiac and circulatory issues, muscle wasting, and many others. For example, bone is called upon repeatedly to contribute calcium to the blood to help buffer an overly acidic environment. This process demineralizes the skeleton because the alkaline minerals calcium and magnesium are continuously removed from the bone to help reduce acidity. Increased calcium excretion from bone can also increase the risk of kidney stones.

Factors That Affect pH Levels

The foods you eat are one of the primary influences on the body’s pH. The right modifications toward a more alkaline diet can positively influence pH values within various systems of the body. Most fruits, for example, are acid-forming, with the exception of a few such as lemons and limes. Lemons and limes certainly have acidic properties, but are actually alkalizing once digested, which is why these fruits are so highly recommended during a seasonal cleanse or detoxification program.

Test Your pH Levels

There are various schools of thought on testing the body’s pH. Some clinicians advise testing urine, others advise testing saliva. pH paper or test strips are widely available at your local pharmacy or online, so you can experiment with both body fluids to see for yourself what the correlations are for your system. A fasting urine sample gives the most accurate reading. However, a first-morning urine may be overly acidic due to the retention of urine in the bladder for an extended period of time. Second-morning urine, prior to breakfast, can give a good baseline.

It is also important to note that any one reading has limited value, being just one data point. Since you are looking for a pattern, you should check your urine several times throughout the day and record your results over time. Two hours after a meal is a good time to test to see how your dietary intake has impacted your pH. Studies have shown that urine pH can show modifications in as little as two hours after a meal. Your goal is to be in the green or slightly alkaline range, which should be fairly easily accomplished by consuming a diet high in green leafy vegetables (alkalinizing foods) and lower in proteins and carbohydrates (acidifying foods).

Alkalinizing The Urine Increases Toxin Excretion

An added benefit of alkalinizing has been demonstrated in ongoing studies that show an enhanced detoxification effect with urine alkalization. In the Western medical setting, intravenous sodium bicarbonate (alkaline) is used to treat cases of acute drug poisoning. Other studies have shown that alkaline urine enhances the excretion of a number of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, and inhibits the reabsorption by the kidney of xenobiotics (hormone-mimicking chemicals).

It makes sense that adopting a dietary lifestyle of ongoing alkalization can encourage small quantities of toxins to be removed from our bodies on a daily basis. We know that cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli, kale, cauliflower, collards and Brussels sprouts) have powerful compounds that aid the liver in its Phase I and Phase II detoxification processes and alkalinize the urine. Alkalinizing the urine while following a seasonal fall cleanse is a perfect adjunctive combination for safely excreting toxins. One of my favorite recommendations within this approach is to use a lemon olive oil drink, which has an alkalizing effect and also stimulates the liver and gall bladder to discharge toxins.

Another recommendation is a supplement called PectaSol Chelation Complex, which combines modified citrus pectin and modified alginates (derived from kelp). This safe and gentle formula has been clinically researched and shown to assist the body in eliminating harmful, acid-forming toxins and heavy metals, without removing essential alkalizing minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

The Best Way To Alkalinize

The safest and most natural way to increase your alkalinity is to balance your diet. Some advocates of alkalinizing tend to make proteins and carbohydrates into the “bad guys.” This is an extreme view that doesn’t acknowledge the importance of these types of foods for normal metabolism, immune system support, muscle repair and building, ongoing detoxification, and energy metabolism.

However, the carbohydrate category in the Western diet tends to be highly processed, lacking nutritional value and containing chemical additives. Similarly, the protein category in the Western diet tends to be overused with large portions of commercial animal proteins. An excellent alternative is to consume organic nutrient-dense complex carbohydrates, along with smaller portions of organic and grass-fed animal protein sources and high quality plant protein sources, which are less acidic than their over-processed, commercial counterparts. These substitutions are not problematic in terms of alkalization; however, they do need to be balanced with frequent abundant portions of fresh organic alkalizing foods — mainly vegetables. You can ensure you’re achieving an alkalinizing balance by testing your pH levels regularly.

Increase your intake of vegetables and fruits high in alkalinizing minerals, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. Foods that provide excellent sources of potassium include red potatoes, avocado, Brussels sprouts and many others. Green leafy vegetables have high magnesium content; and broccoli, sea veggies, collards, chard and other greens are rich in calcium.

An alkalinizing mineral broth can be easily made by combining potatoes, celery, parsley, green beans, zucchini, beet tops, kale, onions and seaweed in a full pot of water; simmering for an hour or two; and pouring off the liquid for use. This makes a wonderful, mineral-rich liquid for a seasonal cleanse. Other alkalinizing food sources include liquid chlorophyll, green powder supplements which can be added to smoothies, soups or warm water, or the highly alkaline umeboshi plum paste made from a sour plum commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

Since gastrointestinal function can become compromised when the body reaches an overly acidic state, I also recommend my all-natural digestive supplement, called Integrative Digestive Formula, which contains a blend of digestive enzymes, herbs and minerals. This formula can help to alleviate digestive discomfort such as heartburn and nausea, while improving overall digestive function and nutrient absorption.

By making these relatively simple yet important changes in your diet, you will quickly feel the benefits of increased alkalization like reduced inflammatory symptoms and improved energy. For more diet recommendations and tips for a successful seasonal cleanse, visit www.dreliaz.org.

Common Pain

Among the most common pain spots on the body are the chest, shoulders and upper back. You know this pain well and you see others experiencing it, too. It seems like when one of these areas gets tight, the others follow suit.

Pain can arrive in the form of nagging shoulder pain, neck pain, pain behind the shoulder blades, pain in the chest and, soon, headaches. Anti-inflammatories or analgesics are OK in a pinch. Massage and chiropractic are good, too. The best bet, however, is to release the stiffness before it gets worse and pain sets in.

Neck, chest and shoulder stiffness usually comes from poor posture and stress. Often people are hunched over their desks on a computer all day and this elongates the muscles in the shoulder while compressing the muscles in the chest. When your muscles are all jammed up, they hurt. No worries: When you’re in a jam, use the jamb to release the pain.

The door jamb, that is.

Feel Your Pain

The first thing to do when experiencing shoulder, chest and upper back stiffness or pain is to try and feel it. This lets you better understand the tightness and where it originates.

If your neck hurts but not your shoulders, for example, then the pain may be from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. If your shoulders hurt, it could be from sleeping with your arm above your head or from stress. Additionally, the shoulders could be tightening because of shortened chest muscles, or pecs. These get short or contracted when the arms are held close in front of the body for extended periods of time when typing, writing, driving or reading. Postural and behavioral changes go a long way to prevent the tightness and pain from returning.

When the chest muscles tighten, they cause your shoulders to round forward. This gives you what personal trainers often call “turtle back.” This just means your upper back and shoulders are hunched forward, which causes pain as they keep your chest muscles in a constant state of tightness or contraction and your shoulders in an extended position. This makes your shoulders contract in an effort to pull them back to a normal position. The prolonged contraction leads to trigger points, those nasty knots you feel in your shoulders. They are painful.

Painful Dilemma

When experiencing chronic shoulder, chest, and upper back pain, many grab for NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), hot compresses and showers, chiropractic adjustments, and acupuncture. Others opt for massage and some even go so far as to get physical therapy. The best advice I can give on any pain issue is to start low-tech and try the least invasive approach first. Often times, the simplest thing is the fastest solution.

In this case, it’s stretching in a doorway. Here are five ways you can do it:

Doorway Stretch One:

• Stand with feet parallel and just behind the doorway.

• Place your right forearm against the doorway frame. Make sure your arm is held at a 90-degree angle with palm flat against the jamb.

• Step forward with your right foot through to the other side of the doorway. Do not move your arm. You should feel a nice stretch across your right pectoral (chest) muscle. Hold for 20 seconds.

• If it is too painful to hold this position, take a shorter step forward.

• If you do not feel the stretch, then turn your torso toward the left while keeping everything else in place.

• After 20 seconds return to the starting position by stepping back with your right foot.

• Repeat on the left side.

Doorway Stretch Two:

• Stand with feet parallel and just behind the doorway.

• Place your right forearm against the doorway frame. Make sure your arm is held at a 120-degree angle with palm flat against the jamb.

• Step forward with your right foot through to the other side of the doorway. Do not move your arm. You should feel a nice stretch across your right pectoral (chest) muscle. Hold for 20 seconds.

• If it is too painful to hold this position, take a shorter step forward.

• If you do not feel the stretch, then turn your torso toward the left while keeping everything else in place.

• After 20 seconds return to the starting position by stepping back with your right foot.

• Repeat on the left side.

Doorway Stretch Three: 

• Stand with feet parallel and just behind the doorway. Or, if you are too tall to allow a full arm extension toward the top of the doorway, kneel behind the doorway.

• Place your right forearm against the inside of the doorway frame.

• Slowly slide your arm up along the inside of the doorway frame. You should feel a nice stretch across your right pectoral (chest) muscle and around your shoulders and rotators.

• If you do not feel the stretch, lean slightly forward and that should do the trick.

• Hold for 20 seconds then return to the starting position by slowly sliding your arm back down the frame.

• Repeat on the left side.

Doorway Stretch Four:

• Stand with feet parallel and just behind the doorway.

• Place the palms of both hands flat on the back of the jamb, forearms held parallel to the floor.

• Slowly allow your upper body to lean forward and hold for 20 seconds. You should feel a stretch across your chest, along your ribs and/or between your shoulder blades.

• After 20 seconds return to the starting position. This is the warm-up for the next stretch.

Doorway Stretch Five:

• Stand with feet parallel and just behind the doorway.

• Place your forearms flat along the back of the jamb, triceps held parallel to the floor.

• Slowly allow your upper body to lean forward and hold for 20 seconds. You should feel a stretch across your chest, along your ribs and/or between your shoulder blades.

• After 20 seconds return to the starting position.

There are many ways a door jamb can be used to stretch the upper and lower parts of your body. These are just a few examples to get you started. The secret to the benefits of these doorway stretches is doing them slow and steady. Correcting your posture and moving every hour away from your desk also helps prevent the chest, shoulders and upper back from tightening. But if they do, these stretches are a doorway to pain relief.

It may also help you live longer. Analysis of data from research called the Copenhagen City Heart Study shows that the men in Copenhagen who jog live, on average, 6.2 years longer than non-joggers. Women increase their life expectancy by 5.6 years.

“The results of our research allow us to definitively answer the question of whether jogging is good for your health,” says, Peter Schnohr, chief cardiologist for the study. “We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don’t actually need to do that much to reap the benefits.”

The researchers found that joggers secured the best health benefits when they jogged one to 2.5 hours a week undertaken in several sessions. They recommend keeping up a moderate pace, just slightly breathless but not totally out of breath.

For sinuses, springtime may be the cruelest months as a profusion of airborne plant allergens cause uncomfortable and energy-robbing symptoms for many people. While chronic sinus problems may not seem like a serious health threat, they can indicate imbalances in other systems such as digestion and immunity. Sinus infections may also cause symptoms like chronic headaches, abdominal pain and menstrual problems. There is only a thin plate of bone between the sinuses and the brain, so sinus infections can also negatively affect the brain. In Traditional Chinese Medicine this is known as a “phlegm condition,” resulting in mental fog.

Test Yourself

Chronic sinusitis is most effectively addressed using safe and natural remedies, since antibiotics provide only temporary, partial relief. It’s actually very easy to tell if you are suffering from an ongoing hidden sinus infection by performing a simple screening test: Push your three middle fingers into your maxillary sinuses (just under the bone under your eyes) or frontal sinuses (in your forehead). If you feel pressure, keep applying the same pressure and wait. If the pressure increases over time, you may have chronic sinusitis.

Natural Solutions

The holistic treatment of chronic sinusitis requires a dynamic approach that addresses allergies, the digestive system, dental health, immune support, circulation and drainage. Key components include gentle detoxification, herbs and botanicals, diet, acupuncture, nutrients, and homeopathic remedies. These natural therapies can offer long-term support for sinuses while improving overall health in the process.

The Link Between Allergies And Digestion

It may seem like a stretch to link allergies with digestion, but they are very closely connected.

One common source of allergies is intestinal inflammation which allows large molecules to pass through the gut wall, entering the circulation. When the immune system identifies these foreign molecules, an immune attack is launched. This allergic reaction initiates an inflammatory process that can significantly affect the sinuses. Two dietary sources known to cause sinus congestion and allergies in many people are dairy products and gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt and kamut). By avoiding these two food groups, allergy-prone individuals can find significant relief from acute and chronic sinus problems.

Circulation And Drainage

Promoting healthy circulation helps to drain the sinuses and relieve chronic inflammation. Effective therapies that help promote circulation and drainage of the sinuses include:

• Infrared sauna: An infrared sauna gives off therapeutic infrared heat that can be absorbed by the body, promoting circulation in the sinuses.

• Neural therapy: For more severe sinus conditions, I often use neural therapy in my clinical practice that involves injecting the tonsils and sinuses with homeopathic remedies and an anesthetic. From my experience as a holistic medical doctor, it is apparent that many emotions are stored in the sinuses. My patients often report a major release of grief, sadness and trauma in conjunction with sinus drainage.

• Cranialsacral therapy: Cranialsacral therapy can help improve sinus conditions by creating more space between the cranial bones, promoting normal drainage and relieving sinus pressure.

• Neti pot: Irrigating the sinuses with a traditional Ayurvedic neti pot is a simple way to promote drainage. A 5 percent salt solution may be used, or tea tree oil may be added to the water. Another option is to add powdered extracts of Hydrastis canadensis, Berberis vulgaris or Berberis aquifolium. These herbs contain berberine, a plant alkaloid with antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. For complete instructions on safe use of a Neti pot, go here.

Supplements And Herbs

A variety of herbs and supplements can be useful in reducing allergic reactions, decreasing inflammation, boosting immunity and helping to thin and expel mucous in chronic sinusitis.

• A highly researched Tibetan Herbal Formula has been shown effective in sinusitis by regulating inflammation and enhancing the immune response.

• Medicinal mushrooms, particularly reishi and cordyceps, support immunity, digestion and circulation and help reduce inflammation. I recommend a formula that includes these and other species of medicinal mushrooms grown on a blend of immunity-enhancing herbs for extra support.

• Honokiol, a compound extracted from Magnolia officinalis bark, offers powerful anti-inflammation and immune support, along with additional critical health benefits.

• Vitamin C has antihistamine, anti-inflammation and immunity-boosting properties.

• Zinc is a nutrient that is necessary for optimal immune function; a deficiency can impair immunity and increase inflammation.

• Quercetin and hesperidin are plant flavonoids that inhibit inflammation-producing enzymes and reduce the release of histamine from immune cells.

• Bromelain, a pineapple enzyme, has anti-inflammatory properties and helps thin and expel mucous. Clinical trials have shown that bromelain helps reduce inflammation of the nasal mucosa in acute sinusitis patients.

• Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao are two Chinese herbal combinations that can reduce inflammation and increase immune response.

Breathe Easy

Chronic sinusitis is a painful condition that is often not treated comprehensively by conventional medicine. With strategic, integrative medical approaches, however, chronic sinusitis can be successfully addressed for long-term relief. By understanding the underlying causes and developing a holistic treatment plan that uses various integrative therapies, chronic and acute sinusitis can be cleared effectively and overall health can be improved safely and naturally.

For more practical information on all-natural remedies, visit http://www.dreliaz.org/.

In this study, scientists immersed tooth enamel in a sports or energy drink in the lab under conditions that replicate what happens in your mouth when you indulge in an energy drink. The results weren’t pretty.

“Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda,” says Poonam Jain, B.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., lead author of the study. “Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.”

Making Improvements

Reaching your fitness, health or wellness goals is no easy task. For many people, there are a number of things they wish to improve upon. Tackling such tasks, let alone setting goals to do so, can be daunting. Often, the perceived effort it takes to undertake the activities to achieve the goals, not to mention the time involved, seems too difficult. Thus, many people fall short of achieving their wellness goals or end up doing nothing to achieve them.

That can all change, however, with a simple tool to help you develop and stay on track. Each of the five components in the SMART wellness goal-setting scheme is essential to both creating and achieving your wellness goals.

Structured Plan

Specific. The more specific you can make your goals, the better chance you have of succeeding. Specificity allows for understanding how to measure success in the other four areas of SMART. Without specificity, you do more aimless floating on the ocean than sailing on the seas. Driving in circles is never as fun or satisfying as directly reaching your destination. The more specific the details of the trip, the sooner you can reach the destination. And there can be more than one — a series of mini destinations — on the way to reaching the big destination over time.

When working toward specificity, it is a good idea to begin by considering the five Ws: why, what, who, where and when.

• Why: Understanding your for changing your state of health is the most important step because it fuels your desire and sets your level of commitment to the program. Without knowing why, it is easy to do nothing.
• What: Focusing on what you want to accomplish is the next decision. Do you want to lose 20 pounds or run a faster mile?
• Who: Wellness programs work best with a support structure in place. Who will you involve in the achievement of your goals? How about a workout partner, massage therapist, a healthcare provider or a loved one who can provide moral support?
• Where: Determine where you will get treatment or exercise. Do you require visits to an acupuncturist’s office or just a track to run around? What about the local yoga class or your living room?
• When: You need to set schedules and stay on track for all this to come into play. People do better and reach their goals faster when they are in a routine. Establish a time frame for activities before you begin. Being specific is essential to know what goals you want to achieve and how to get there.

Measurable. Having measurable goals and a reliable metrics system are essential for achieving wellness goals. After all, without measuring progress how will you know whether you have reached your goal or made mini-stops along the way? There are two parts to this component: the measured goal and the criteria for measuring it.

Let’s say your goal is to lose 20 pounds in six months. Standing on a scale once per week offers the metric. Making a chart of progress at the end of each month and measuring that against your hoped-for mini-monthly goals gives you the criteria for measurement. Other scales are also available, such as 1-10 subjective scales for things like pain, hour scales for time (important for endurance measurements), blood pressure readings and so on.

Create a list of what you want to measure and then decide how it can be measured. How much weight do you want to lose? How many miles do you want to run? How much weight do you want to lift? How much of a decrease in pain do you want to feel each week or each month? Being specific about these measurements helps you decide what is attainable.

Attainable. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. But the objective is more likely to be attainable if the goals and vision are realistic enough to actually be reached. Therefore, you must set an objective that you feel is obtainable and for which you are willing to put forth the effort. You can desire a far-off goal, but setting markers of achievement along the way makes it more accessible.

Many people quit their wellness routines or drop their wellness lifestyles when they do not attain their desired goals in an immediate time frame and don’t recognize progress toward their goals. Listing small goals that lead to larger goals is not only a successful way of attaining measurable results, but of building your self-confidence, self-belief and self-image.

Realistic. In order for wellness goals to be attainable and measurable, they must be realistic for you. That is, they need to be something that you are physically, mentally and financially able to achieve. What identifies as realistic is a matter of personal relevance; you are the only one who can determine this.

Returning to an earlier example, if it is your goal to lose 20 pounds, this must be realistic for you. Are you carrying so much weight that losing 20 pounds makes healthy sense? If you’re not that heavy, losing this much weight may be unrealistic and unhealthy. Other important questions: Do you have the time and dedication to work toward achieving that goal? Do you have the financial and structural support necessary to allow it to happen? Moreover, being realistic means giving yourself several months to lose the weight and not just a few weeks. Setting realistic time frames goes a long way to keeping you on track.

Timely. Being timely is an important part of goal setting, especially when it comes to wellness. In what time frame are you trying to achieve your goals? How much time per day, week and month are you planning on dedicating to the attainment of those goals? What time of day are you able to do this? Can you fit your planned activities into your overall life schedule?

Being specific about time is crucial. Just saying that you are “working on getting healthy” or on “the path of weight loss” can lead to failure. Time frames are important for goals to be measured in a meaningful way. Remember: Be specific!

Written Plan

Once you have spent some time considering all of this and listing the specifics of each of the five components, it’s time to write out your SMART action statement.

An example of a written plan that incorporates the SMART structure goes something like this:

“I want to feel better and experience less pain because it makes me feel good. When I feel good, I enjoy my life. Therefore, I want to lose 20 pounds and decrease my pain by 50 percent. To do this, I need the support of my family, a dietician and a personal trainer who is available on Wednesdays and Sundays. I will use a weight scale and a pain index to chart my progress over the next six months, with mini-goals set at the end of each month. I believe I can attain my goal because the time frame is realistic, I have a support system, I know what I need to do, and I believe in myself and am dedicated to changing my own life for the better.”

This statement is generic, but speaks to each of the five components of the SMART wellness goal-setting scheme. Give it a try and see what a difference it can make in reaching your personal fitness, health and wellness goals!

“Although our study was not able to distinguish the exact opiate used during pregnancy, we do know that the overall use of this class of drugs grew by five fold over the last decade and this appears to correspond with much higher rates of withdrawal in… infants,” says Stephen W. Patrick, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., lead author of the study.

“Opiate use in our country is becoming an epidemic. Too often our health system reacts to problems; instead, we must address opiate use as a public health issue. To do this, we must limit opiate pain reliever use through healthcare provider education and statewide systems that watch for abuses, like people going to multiple doctors to get opiate prescriptions,” Patrick says.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome causes a wide array of symptoms including increased irritability, hypertonia (heightened muscle tone) tremors, feeding intolerance, seizures, and respiratory distress. In addition, babies with the syndrome are more likely to be born with a low birth weight.

“You can often stand in the hallway and know which babies are experiencing withdrawal. They are irritable, their cries are different, and they appear uncomfortable,” Patrick says.

“It’s clear that not wearing a seatbelt is associated with a higher chance of death,” says lead author Dietrich Jehle, M.D., a researcher at the University of Buffalo. “… Obese drivers may find it more difficult to buckle up a standard seatbelt.”

Jehle’s research shows that normal weight drivers are 67 percent more likely to wear a seatbelt than morbidly obese (extremely overweight) drivers.

“We found that the relationship between the amount of obesity and seatbelt use was linear; the more obese the driver, the less likely that seatbelts were used,” says Jehle.

Not buckling up is, of course, a deadly decision, says Jehle: It delivers more force to the body much more quickly while also increasing the chances of being thrown from the car.

“The question is: Is there something we can do to cars to make them safer for the obese?” asks Jehle. “How can we make it more likely for people, including the overweight or obese, to wear seatbelts?” He adds that these findings also raise questions about how best to conduct crash-tests of cars. He notes that the dummies that are used in crash-tests are not obese.

“We need to do something, since one-third of the U.S. population is overweight (not obese) and one-third is considered obese,” Jehle says.