Infotrak

Not all diseases are easy to diagnose. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Americans die or face permanent disability each year due to diagnostic errors. David Newman-Toker, M.D., PhD, Lead Investigator and Director of the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence explains what diseases have the highest error rates and steps patients can take to avoid diagnostic errors.

A research study has a worrisome warning: people who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at midlife had a threefold increased risk of developing dementia later in life. Michal Schnaider Beeri, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center at Rutgers Brain Health Institute, shares the results of her research, and discusses possible explanations for the link.

Medicare recipients are getting bombarded with marketing messages, most about Medicare Advantage. Some are misleading and worse. Medicare expert Martha Khlopin, nationally syndicated radio host and founder of Get2insurance.com, explains the basics of Medicare Advantage coverage, and how seniors can avoid being scammed.

For most Americans, there's no escaping the annual change known as daylight saving time. Why was it created in the first place? Has it outlived its usefulness? David S. Prerau, PhD, author of "Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time" talks about DST’s history and where the battle in Congress stands, to end the annual time change.

40% of Americans during the pandemic could not cover a $400 emergency in cash. Rachel Cruze, personal finance expert, author of "Know Yourself, Know Your Money: Discover WHY You Handle Money the Way You Do, and WHAT to Do About It!" explains the psychology that influences how we spend and save money.

Recent research reveals a significant number of low income people over 65 have no health insurance coverage, yet many desperately need it. Nathalie Huguet, PhD, Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, explains the main reason for the problem and the best ways to address it.

In just about every gathering of people--workplace, church, group, whatever--there's usually one or more complainers. Ivan Misner PhD, founder of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization, author of "The 3rd Paradigm: A Radical Shift to Greater Success" shares the best ways to react to complaints, which can lead to innovation and breakthrough ideas.

A recent study found that women who don't get enough sleep are at greater risk of developing hypertension, or high blood pressure. Shahab Haghayegh, PhD, Research Fellow at the Brigham and Harvard Medical School, shares his eye-opening research.

Job discrimination is not allowed in US workplaces, but one expert says it's still very real, as blacks remain less likely to be hired and rarely progress to senior positions. Adia Harvey Wingfield, PhD, sociologist, Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences and Vice Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at Washington University in St. Louis, author of "Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It," outlines the issue and suggests ways to address it.

Parents of teenagers may be surprised by the powerful emotions that can affect their teenagers. Lisa Damour, PhD, Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University, author of "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents," co-host of the Ask Lisa podcast, offers tips for parents on how to support their teens in distress.

It's a tragic statistic: the suicide rate of military veterans is about twice that of the general population. Jim Lorraine, military veteran and President of America's Warrior Partnership explains the factors behind this worrisome trend and what can be done.

High monthly rent expenses are weighting heavily on millions of Americans. Gary Painter, PhD, Academic Director of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business real estate program, Professor of Real Estate at the University of Cincinnati, shares his research that Americans who pay more than 30% of their income toward rent are forced to make trade-offs in other areas of their lives that can last for years and contribute to many social ills.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. How does ChatGPT stack up in answering consumer health questions compared to human physicians? Devin Mann, MD, Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, shares the surprising results!

Minivans are popular vehicles, but updated safety tests had disturbing results. Jill Ciminillo, Managing Editor for the website Pickup Truck + SUV Talk, and co-host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, outlined the latest data and what minivan owners need to know.

Online influencers are posting paid videos with questionable health messages. Marlene Schwartz, PhD, Director of the University of Connecticut's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, explains how consumers can recognize paid messages.

A surprising number of Americans don't know what rights are protected under the First Amendment, and many cannot name the three branches of government. Matt Levendusky, PhD, Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Stephen & Mary Baran Chair in the Institutions of Democracy at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, shares the findings of the 2023 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey, and explains why the troubling results could one day threaten our freedoms.

Recent national disasters have led to a major shortage in America's blood supply. Baia Lasky, MD, board-certified physician in Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine, Medical Director of the American Red Cross of Georgia, explains why the problem is so serious and how a first-time blood donor can get started.

Today, the average American lives just 76 years, the shortest lifespan the country has seen since 1996. A growing amount of research indicates that having the right employer can boost your lifespan and your health in dramatic ways. Lee Newman, MD, MA, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health and Department of Epidemiology at the University of Colorado, explains how employers may dramatically affect the quality--and perhaps even length--of an employee's life.

In just five years, legalized sports betting is now embraced as a revenue source by at least 37 states, and gambling addiction is a growing problem, especially among teenagers. Timothy W. Fong, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA and Co-Director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. Explains how parents can recognize addiction in teens or ideally, prevent the start of it.

Now, look at groundbreaking research that found that the lives of nearly 8,000 black Americans could be saved each year if doctors could figure out a way to bring their average blood pressure down to the average level of whites. Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community & Preventive Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, explains the reasons behind the gap.