Clinic Network, Author at Dr. Sean Peterson

Smartphones are Having a Major Impact on Teen Sleeping Habits

November 6, 2017 By Clinic Network

A new study of sleep-deprived teenagers has found evidence to suggest that young adults are getting less sleep, or experiencing lower quality sleep because of smart-device usage. The study published in the journal Sleep Medicine analyzed data collected in two surveys of American youth that were conducted between 2009 and 2015. 370,000 teens participated, and their responses showed that there was a large shift in the amount of sleep adolescents were getting once smartphones became commonplace.

The National Sleep Foundation (a U.S. based institution) recommends that teenagers get at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. The findings of this study show that around 16-17% of teens were more likely to report getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night in 2015 than they were in 2009. Researchers also accounted for other factors that could be affecting the sleep schedule of young adults, such as homework, watching TV or having a job after school. They found that in most cases, hours spent on these activities remained constant over the examined period. Zlatan Krizan, a psychology and sleep expert at Iowa State University, says, “The only factor that also increased during the time that could be responsible for the shortened sleep is social media, news online and the types of activities that smartphones are used for.”

Portable media devices such as smartphones and laptops are so detrimental to sleep and sleeping schedules due to their stimulation of brain activity. Using these devices directly before hitting the hay makes it more difficult for your brain to relax and shut down. To help your teens get on a better sleeping schedule, consider keeping cellphones and other devices out of the bedroom. Instead, encourage teens to replace their devices with novels that interest them.

To read the source article, click here. For the full study write-up, click here.

Science vs. Opinion: Canadians are Confused

October 31, 2017 By Clinic Network

A survey commissioned by the Ontario Science Center for Science Literacy Week (Sept. 18-24) has produced results that have been referred to as “worrisome” by Maurice Bitran (CEO of the Ontario Science Center). According to one of the most general questions on the survey, 43% of Canadians believe that scientific findings are a matter of opinion.

Here is a run-down of a few other concerning survey responses:

47% (an increase of 7% over the last year) of people answered that “the science behind global warming is unclear,” despite scientists’ persisting findings of irrefutable evidence
19% answered that “there is a link between vaccinations and autism,” even though studies providing evidence to the contrary have been published years ago
68% agree that media coverage of scientific issues is “reported selectively to support news media objectives.”

This survey was conducted by a research firm called “Leger,” and gathered data from just over 1,500 Canadians earlier this summer. There were some positives to draw from the public opinion:

79% agreed that they’re comfortable “knowing that scientific answers may not be definitive.”
82% stated that they “would like to know more about science and how it affects our world.”
A majority of responders stated that they trusted museums, scientists, and education institutions as sources of scientific information, but many people distrust social media and information spread by word of mouth

This distrust of the media may be somewhat justified, as many times they focus on telling both sides to a story while failing to distinguish between facts and opinions. Drawing from the positives, it’s encouraging that so many people wish to educate themselves to better understand scientific findings, and the impacts they may have on our future.

To read the full article, click here.

Does Having a Dog Around Impact Your Sleep Quality?

October 13, 2017 By Clinic Network

A new study conducted by the Mayo Clinic has an interesting main objective: to find out if having a dog in your room while you sleep could have a negative or positive impact on the quality of sleep you experience. A previous study from 2015 (organized by the same institution) surveyed pet owners on whether they allowed their pets to sleep in their bedroom. A majority permitted their furry best friends to sleep in their rooms with them, but a group of these responders did identify their pets as disruptive to their rest.

This new study, titled “The Effect of Dogs on Human Sleep in the Home Sleep Environment,” expands on the original study, with a focus specifically on dogs. 40 study participants and their dogs wore accelerometers to help track their level of relaxation over a week-long evaluation period. “We found that many people actually find comfort and a sense of security from sleeping with their pets,” said Luis Krahn, a specialist in sleep medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

There are some other factors that should be considered when evaluating this outcome. For one, it was found that people who allowed their dog to sleep on the bed with them experienced lower quality sleep than those who had a separate dog bed in their room. Also, none of the dogs were younger than 6 months, so of course the data may be different for people with energetic or untrained puppies.

Overall, the conclusion of this study should be seen as positive to most dog owners, “A dog’s presence in the bedroom may not be disruptive to human sleep, as was previously suspected.”

For the full article, click here.

To read more about this study, visit the Mayo Clinic website here.

Hurricane Harvey: The Natural Disaster with Lasting Health Risks

September 22, 2017 By Clinic Network

The immediate impacts of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas have been well documented over the past week, but risks will remain after the waters subside. The water damage to homes will be irreversible, and the cleanup required by the community to restore large cities like Houston will be daunting. It is easy to overlook the possible long-term effects of sewage and waterborne germs for the time being, as emergency responders’ main concern is to prevent drownings or rescue stranded people from their homes. Eventually, the focus must shift to the mental effects a disaster such as this can have on its victims.

Those who have sought relief at shelters also face the risks of being around large groups of people in limited space. Simple illnesses can spread quickly, and they can have a devastating effect if not addressed. “This is rapidly evolving. I always worry in these large congregations of people about viral outbreaks that cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. And we are just getting started,” stated Dr. David Persse, the director of Houston’s Emergency Medical Services.

Maintaining a sanitary environment for survivors is a key priority for volunteers working in these shelters.

Surveys of victims from Hurricane Katrina show that around 10% of victims suffered some form of post-traumatic stress disorder after the hurricane that devastated New Orleans. It will be important for the people of Houston to evaluate their mental health as well as their physical health once this disaster has been dealt with.

For more on this subject, click here.

If you are interested in contributing to the relief effort for the people of Texas and Louisiana, you can find more information about making a financial donation to the Red Cross here.

The Metabolic Effect of Sugary Drinks

August 4, 2017 By Clinic Network

A research study conducted as part of an academic research program at the University of North Dakota has found evidence that when drinks with added sugar are consumed alongside meals that contain a large amount of protein, the body’s metabolism becomes less efficient. This triggers the body to increase the amount of fat it creates and stores, which leads to increased weight gain and can result in someone becoming overweight or obese.

The study, published in a journal called BioMed Central, used a metabolic chamber to evaluate participants over 2, 24-hour study visits. A metabolic chamber is an airtight room that allows researchers to quantify how the volunteers’ bodies are using the nutrients they consume. The key metrics evaluated in this case were oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and urinary nitrogen excretion.

Each participant ate the exact same foods throughout their testing days; one day consisted of foods with a 15% protein content, the other a 30% protein content. Each meal they consumed was accompanied by either a drink sweetened with sugar, or an artificially-sweetened drink. After a participant consumed a protein rich meal along-side a sugary drink, their fat use and diet-induced thermogenesis decreased by an amount greater than the other combinations of drinks and meals.

As always it is important to not only consider the individual food items you are consuming, but also the sum of these items.