Infotrak

Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association discussed a recent report from his organization that highlighted excessive vehicle speed as a persistent factor in nearly one-third of all motor vehicle-related fatalities. He believes that speeding is not given enough attention as a traffic safety issue and is widely deemed culturally acceptable by the motoring public. He outlined several public policy measures that he believes would help to reduce speeding.

It is common knowledge that good health and happiness depends on having proper balance between our professional and private lives. Bryan E. Robinson, PhD, psychotherapist, Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, author of #Chill: Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life explained how ending the cycle of work addiction can be achieved by reframing priorities and cultivating mindfulness in our daily lives. He outlined the benefits of mediation to let go of anxiety and focus on the moment.

It’s well known that marijuana use has a negative impact on brain function and memory. Dr. Neil Dawson’s research team examined what specific areas of the brain are affected by long term use, for both recreational users and patients who use the drug to combat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. He said long term use of the drug impairs the ability of brain regions involved in learning and memory to communicate with each other. Dr. Dawson is a Lecturer in Biomedicine at Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results offered strategies aimed at forming good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviors that lead to extraordinary results. He explained how to find the underlying causes of bad habits and why that can help to correct them. He offered examples of ways to redesign an environment to break bad habits.

Tasleem Padamsee, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Services Management and Policy at Ohio State University. Dr. Padamsee led a study that found that African-American women at high risk of breast cancer are less likely than white women to pursue potentially life-saving preventive care. She talked about the most common preventative steps that at-risk patients can take. She also encouraged patients to talk to their physicians about cancer risk concerns.

Marcos A. Rangel, PhD, Applied Microeconomist, Assistant Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy Medicine at Duke University led a study that found that immigrant children are nearly twice as likely to study and pursue careers in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as children born in the US. He believes that because immigrant students are less comfortable communicating in English than their native-born peers, they gravitate toward subjects where the language barrier is less of an impediment.

Every day an unseen form of labor creeps into our lives—the kind of secretarial and managerial work necessary to run a life and a household. Elizabeth Emens, PhD, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, author of Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More discussed how this labor is created, how it affects our lives, and how we might avoid, reduce, and redistribute admin whenever possible—as individuals and as a society.

Each year, thousands of teenagers and young adults are prescribed opioids for pain relief after having their wisdom teeth removed Alan Schroeder, MD, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine led a study that found almost 6 percent of these patients were diagnosed with opioid abuse during the 12 months after the initial prescription. He discussed alternate options for pain relief. He said wisdom tooth extraction is by far the most common surgical procedure for adolescents and young adults but there is very little research that supports the widespread use of the procedure.

Advertising works, and Dr Jennifer Emond’s study found that kids who were exposed to TV ads for high-sugar cereals were more likely to subsequently eat the cereals they had seen advertised. She talked about the effect this may have on diet quality and childhood obesity, and offered suggestions to parents on how to maintain control of TV watching, particularly for small children.

Teresa Gil, PhD, psychotherapist , author of Women Who Were Sexually Abused As Children: Mothering, Resilience and Protecting the Next Generation estimates that there are approximately 21 million mothers in America who experienced childhood sexual abuse. She discussed how that trauma may affect their own parenting. She talked about the value of strong mother-daughter relationships, spiritual beliefs, and therapy in coping.

How honest are you with your doctor? Over half of patients in a recent study say they don’t share key information with their physician. A research scientist says withholding those facts may be risky. Then, an expert says mothers in America who experienced sexual abuse in childhood may find the trauma affects them as parents.

Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst for Bankrate.com shared the results of a Bankrate survey that found that despite the hot labor market, 62 percent of employed Americans did not get a pay raise or better paying job in 2018. He noted that career or income advancement often involves a willingness to change jobs, yet only 25 percent have any intention of looking for a new job in 2019.

Gina LaRoche,is an organizational consultant, executive coach, co-founder of Seven Stones Leadership Group, and co-author of The 7 Laws of Enough: Cultivating a Life of Sustainable Abundance. Ms. LaRoche said counting your blessings year-round can be good for your mental health and well-being, ultimately boosting a person’s chances of success. She talked about ways to avoid a “scarcity mentality,” where more is always better and having more will lead to happiness. She talked about the influence of social media on this mentality

Danny Iny, entrepreneur, author of Leveraged Learning: How the Disruption of Education Helps Lifelong Learners and Experts with Something to Teach believes that pursuing a four-year degree leaves too many students drowning in debt and unprepared for the work world. He outlined the decisions that students and parents should consider before committing to the time and cost commitments of a college degree. He discussed what careers require a college education, along possible alternative paths for other careers.

Craig Smith, PhD, Research Investigator at the University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development led a study that examined whether parents should force kids to apologize for something they did wrong to another child. He found that the wronged child saw a big difference between a sincere apology and a coerced one. He suggested ways that parents can help their child learn to have empathy for the victim, thus ensuring a willing apology.

Quint Studer, community development expert, author of Building A Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America said vibrant communities don’t just happen—they are built. He discussed ways that cities and towns can attract investments, encourage small business startups and build lively downtowns. He talked about the importance of creating community events such as street festivals, rallies, fundraisers and concerts to foster a sense of neighborhood. He also outlined ways that citizens can volunteer to improve their local community.

Millions of Americans are hooked on gambling, and at least 40 states are addicted to gambling revenue. Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling said states have not taken the measures needed to address gambling addiction, as they have greatly expanded gambling in the past ten years. He talked about the most common characteristics of those addicted to gambling and how to recognize if someone has a problem.

Karen Bakies, RDN, LD, FAND, Registered Dietitian and Vice President of Nutrition Affairs for the American Dairy Association Mideast in Columbus, Ohio said a recent survey by her organization found that 94 percent of Americans admit to throwing food away at home. In fact, the average family wastes nearly a third of the food they buy. She outlined the most common reasons that people throw food out, and offered suggestions to minimize the problem.

Jennifer Molinsky, PhD, housing expert, Senior Research Associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University shared the findings of her annual report on the nation’s housing. She said that many older Americans are burdened by housing costs, and that affordable, accessible and supportive senior housing is in short supply. She also warned that many households in their 50s and early 60s may not be financially prepared for retirement.

There are roughly 8 million high-school student athletes in the U.S. However, only a small percentage go on to play a sport in college, and even fewer receive athletic scholarships. Patrick O’Rourke, Certified Public Accountant in Washington, D.C., founder of ScholarshipStats.com explained which sports have the most scholarship money available. He talked about parents’ misconceptions about college scholarships and offered advice.