Infotrak

A top cardiologist says the mind-body connection is real--your thoughts can impact your heart health. Glenn N Levine, MD, Master Clinician and Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Chief of the cardiology section at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, both in Houston, led the creation of an American Heart Association Scientific Statement that examined why and how psychological health can positively or negatively impact a person's physical health, and risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

It's not going to be a normal fall, as both students and parents must deal with the second school year of uncertainty and concerns connected to the pandemic. We'll get some wise parenting advice from Catherine Athans, PhD, Certified Trauma Therapist, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

It may sound obvious: the longer than older Americans can continue working, the more money they'll have for a comfortable retirement. But how many older workers are capable of working longer? Gal Wettstein, PhD, Senior Research Economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, shares the findings of his recent report.

You may have heard about a national blood shortage but there's related life-threatening crisis: a shortage of plasma donors. Patient advocate John G. Boyle explains the the vital uses of plasma and how to find a donation center near you.

As more and more Americans travel by air, reports are soaring of bad behavior by passengers. Some involve physical violence against airline personnel. We'll look at possible causes and solutions with Loretta Alkalay, former FAA eastern regional counsel, Adjunct Professor at Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology.

Despite progress in recent decades, there still a significant leadership gender gap in American business, as even today, women fill just 6% of CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies. Leadership coach, Jenn Donahue says more mentoring might help.

A new study finds that the number of children who receive medical treatment for abuse or violence has been dramatically under counted. David Finkelhor, Director of the University of New Hampshire's Crimes against Children Research Center, shares the shocking results of his recent study.

Are you overestimating the dollars you'll someday collect from Social Security? Maria J. Prados, PhD, Economist at the University of Southern California's Center for Economic and Social Research, the average American overestimates their future monthly Social Security check by more than $300. She explains how you can find out how much your future Social Security benefit will be.

If you're questioning your present career path, you're not alone! Helen Horyza, career coach, and author of "Elevate Your Career: Live a Life You’re Truly Proud Of," says millions of middle income workers are wondering if they're living the life they want or if they can find a happier path.

89% of Americans believe it's important for families to have as many family meals as possible each week. Shannon M. Robson, PhD, from the University of Delaware, led a study that showed that more frequent family meals were associated with better dietary outcomes and improved family relationships.

Citizen science has become a global force, as millions of amateurs contribute vast amounts of data on the natural world. But scientists have been reluctant to use the data. We'll talk Rebecca Johnson, PhD, Co-Director of Citizen Science and Research Associate in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology at the California Academy of Sciences. She has devised a way to merge professional and amateur data, in order to answer important questions about our planet's biodiversity and how it is changing.

Recent research shows a strong connection between COVID 19 and obesity, especially in younger people. We’ll talk with Carmen Piernas, MSc, PhD, University Research Lecturer at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, who says one simple calculation can assess your risk of hospitalization or death.

Last year, there was a double-digit percentage increase in reports of anxiety and depression symptoms, yet many struggling with these issues don't seek help. We’ll get some wise advice from mental health advocate David Rabadi, National Speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and author of "How I Lost My Mind and Found Myself", who has faced the same struggles and prevailed.

Americans pay about twice as much per person for healthcare than citizens of other developed nations. Marshall Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win” explains how to carefully check each medical bill to be sure it is accurate and priced fairly, before paying it.

Although there were far fewer vehicles on the road during the pandemic, traffic deaths in 2020 jumped over 7 percent. We'll learn why, and how can you stay safe as more Americans get back on the road, from Darrin Grondel, Vice President of Traffic Safety and Government Relations for the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility.

If a large long lasting power outage happened, how could you get emergency power for your family's survival? M. Granger Morgan, PhD, Hamerschlag University Professor of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and co-director of the National Science Foundation's Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making, led a study that compared strategies for providing emergency power to residents during a large, long-duration power outage, particularly in rural and suburban communities.

The racial divide in America appears to have expanded significantly in recent times. We'll hear from Melvin J. Gravely, II. PhD, a civic leader and author of "Dear White Friend: The Realities of Race, the Power of Relationships and Our Path to Equity". He thinks the great majority of white Americans are not racists, but they are "benefiting bystanders," and he believes that Americans can solve racial problems together.

Opioid addiction is a widespread and devastating problem, but could a common vitamin be the key? David E. Fisher, MD, PhD, Director of the Mass General Cancer Center's Melanoma Program, Director of Massachusetts General Hospital's Cutaneous Biology Research Center, led a study that found that vitamin D deficiency strongly exaggerates the craving for and effects of opioids, potentially increasing the risk for dependence and addiction.

What are the long-term economic effects of school closures/remote learning during the pandemic lockdowns? Daniela Viana Costa, PhD, Public Policy Economist at the Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative, found that reduced education will create significant productivity losses, cutting American GDP and hourly wages by 2050.

An alarming rise in colorectal cancer cases among young people has led the US Preventive Services Task Force to establish new guidelines. Dr. Michael J. Barry, M.D., from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, co-wrote the revised standards and explained why screenings for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45 -- five years earlier than was previously recommended.