Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Sleep Health and Time Changes, Hearing Aid Innovations, and Sick Notes Legislation

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Sleep Health and Time Changes, Hearing Aid Innovations, and Sick Notes Legislation · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Hello and welcome to "Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow." I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, and it's great to have you with us today.
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  Whether you're tuning in from your morning commute, your kitchen, or maybe even your
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  treadmill, I'm here to bring you the latest in medical and health news from around the world,
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  with a little help from artificial intelligence.
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  As we approach the end of daylight saving time here in the United States, it's important to
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  prepare for the changes it brings, not just to our clocks, but also to our bodies.
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  The good news is that you'll get an extra hour of sleep.
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  However, the downside is that it'll be quite dark by late afternoon for the next few months.
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  Daylight saving time ends at two o'clock in the morning local time next Sunday, November 3rd.
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  So, remember to set your clock back an hour before you head to bed.
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  Standard time will last until March 9th, when we'll "spring forward" again with the return of
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  daylight saving time.
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  That particular time change in March can be more challenging for the body.
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  Darker mornings and lighter evenings can disrupt your internal body clock, making it
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  harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or even longer.
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  Studies have shown an increase in heart attacks and strokes immediately following the March
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  time change.
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  Currently, about one in three adults in the United States sleep less than the recommended
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  seven-plus hours nightly.
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  More than half of teenagers in the United States don't get the recommended eight-plus
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  hours of sleep during the week.
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  While "falling back" should be easier, it may still take some time to adjust your sleep
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  habits.
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  There's also the downside of leaving work in the dark or trying to fit in exercise while
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  there's still some daylight.
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  Seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression linked to the shorter days and less
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  sunlight of fall and winter, may be exacerbated for some people.
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  Health organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep
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  Medicine have suggested that it's time to eliminate time switches altogether.
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  They advocate for sticking with standard time, as it aligns better with the sun and human
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  biology.
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  Most countries don't observe daylight saving time.
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  For those that do—primarily in Europe and North America—the dates for changing clocks vary.
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  In the United States, two states—Arizona and Hawaii—do not change their clocks and remain on
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  standard time year-round.
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  Let's talk about how our bodies react to light.
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  Our brains have a master clock set by exposure to sunlight and darkness.
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  This circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle that determines when we become sleepy and
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  when we're more alert.
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  These patterns change with age, which is why early-to-rise youngsters often turn into teens
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  who are hard to wake.
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  Morning light helps reset our rhythm, and by evening, levels of a hormone called melatonin
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  surge, triggering drowsiness.
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  However, too much light in the evening, like that extra hour from daylight saving time, can
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  delay this surge, throwing our cycles out of sync.
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  This circadian clock influences more than just sleep; it also affects heart rate, blood
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  pressure, stress hormones, and metabolism.
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  Even a one-hour change on the clock can disrupt sleep schedules, especially since work and
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  school start times remain unchanged.
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  This is particularly problematic because so many people are already sleep-deprived.
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  Sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity, and numerous other
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  health issues.
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  Some people try to prepare for the time change by adjusting their bedtimes gradually in the
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  days leading up to it.
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  There are ways to ease the transition, such as getting more sunshine to help reset your
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  circadian rhythm for healthier sleep.
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  There's ongoing debate about whether the United States will ever do away with the time change
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  altogether.
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  The most notable recent attempt was a bipartisan bill called the Sunshine Protection
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  Act, which proposed making daylight saving time permanent.
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  However, health experts argue that standard time should be permanent instead.
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  Let's dive into the latest innovation from Apple that could have a significant impact on
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  those experiencing hearing loss.
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  With a new software update released this Monday, certain Apple AirPods Pro models can
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  now function as hearing aids.
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  This is a noteworthy development that experts are applauding, even though it might only
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  assist a small portion of the millions of Americans with hearing loss.
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  To give you an idea of the scope, about thirty million people in the United States—roughly one
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  in eight Americans over the age of twelve—have hearing loss in both ears.
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  Many could benefit from hearing aids, yet most have never tried them.
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  This reluctance stems from factors like cost, poor quality, uncomfortable fit, or even the
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  stigma associated with wearing them.
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  In recent years, there’s been a push to make hearing aids more accessible.
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  Two years ago, federal regulations changed, allowing hearing aids to be sold
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  over-the-counter, which many hoped would bring more affordable and better-quality options to
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  the market.
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  Last month, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved software from Apple
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  that transforms AirPods Pro 2 into hearing aids.
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  So, how does this new feature work?
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  It's available on the AirPods Pro 2 models and requires an iPhone or iPad to set up.
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  The process starts with built-in tests that help users determine if they have hearing loss,
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  and then set personalized amplification levels.
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  These headphones retail for around two hundred forty-nine United States dollars on Apple’s
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  website, and sometimes for less at other retailers.
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  While there are many earbud-type devices that can offer similar functions, experts agree that
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  Apple's move is significant.
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  The ubiquity of AirPods could help normalize the use of hearing aids, making people less
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  self-conscious about their appearance.
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  However, there are potential drawbacks, such as fit and comfort during prolonged use, and the
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  battery life might not last a whole day, unlike traditional hearing aids.
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  Additionally, wearing earbuds might signal to others that the person doesn't want to be
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  disturbed, which could be a social hurdle.
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  Yet, with more people trying out this feature, the hope is that they’ll realize its benefits.
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  As more of these devices are sold, we might see a decrease in prices, making them even more
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  accessible.
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  For those considering over-the-counter hearing aids, it's essential to research thoroughly
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  before purchasing.
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  Forums on Facebook and Reddit can provide valuable insights, while websites like Hearing
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  Tracker and Soundly offer reliable reviews.
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  It's also important to look for devices with features like a "feedback manager" to avoid the
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  piercing whistle of feedback.
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  It's interesting to note that pre-tax money in flexible spending accounts or health savings
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  accounts can be used to purchase hearing aids, including those sold over the counter.
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  However, whether this can be applied to AirPods Pro 2 is still a gray area.
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  Consulting with an accountant is advisable before making such a purchase.
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  Even if you cannot afford the latest technology, your smartphone itself can be a
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  helpful tool for hearing.
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  Most smartphones can convert speech to text, which is useful in conversations.
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  For instance, the iPhone’s "Live Listen" feature turns your phone into an amplifying
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  microphone, enhancing voices even in noisy environments.
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  There are also various apps and websites that aid beyond traditional hearing aids.
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  Some apps can vibrate your phone if an alarm is going off or if a dog is barking.
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  The University of Iowa offers resources for auditory training, and apps like the World
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  Health Organization’s "hearWHO" provide hearing tests.
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  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also has a Sound Level Meter App to
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  measure noise levels.
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  In conclusion, the integration of hearing aid functionalities into popular devices like
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  AirPods Pro 2 is a promising development in making hearing assistance more mainstream and
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  accessible.
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  As technology continues to advance, it's crucial to stay informed and make the most of
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  the tools available to enhance our quality of life.
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  Our next topic takes us to Canada, where the Canadian Medical Association is advocating for
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  the elimination of sick notes for minor illnesses like colds.
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  This move could significantly reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers
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  and free up valuable time for them to focus on patients who truly need medical care.
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  According to the Canadian Medical Association, eliminating the requirement for sick notes
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  could prevent up to twelve and a half million unnecessary healthcare interactions each year.
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  That's a staggering number, and it highlights the inefficiency of the current system.
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  A recent survey by Abacus Data, conducted for the Canadian Medical Association, revealed that
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  around one-third of working Canadians were asked to produce a sick note for a short-term
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  absence at least once in the past year.
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  This practice is frustrating for both doctors and patients.
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  Dr.
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  Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, expressed that doctors want to use
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  their limited time to care for patients who need medical attention, not to fill out
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  paperwork for human resource issues.
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  Patients, too, find it frustrating to have to leave home when they're unwell just to get a
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  note.
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  In many cases, patients end up visiting a doctor after their symptoms have subsided,
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  simply to obtain a sick note.
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  This inefficiency is not only a waste of time for doctors and patients but also contributes
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  to the already heavy workloads faced by family doctors.
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  Dr.
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  Michael Green, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, pointed out that
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  the additional paperwork contributes to the shortage of primary care workers.
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  He emphasized that doctors should focus on caring for the sick, not acting as a policing
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  service for employers.
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  While some employers argue that sick notes are necessary to ensure honesty among workers,
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  particularly those who frequently call in sick on specific days, there are alternative
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  solutions.
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  The Canadian Medical Association suggests alternatives like signed declarations from
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  employees, return-to-work interviews, or employee check-ins.
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  These methods could provide the necessary accountability without burdening the healthcare
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  system.
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  Interestingly, some provinces in Canada have already taken steps to eliminate the need for
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  sick notes for short-term illnesses.
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  For instance, Ontario has proposed legislation to prevent employers from requiring a doctor's
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  note for the three days of provincially protected sick leave.
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  Quebec has enacted similar legislation, and Nova Scotia has also restricted the conditions
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  under which an employer can request a sick note.
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  These measures aim to use healthcare resources more efficiently and ensure that medical
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  appointments are reserved for those who truly need them.
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  While it's still early to determine the success of these legislative changes, they represent a
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  promising shift towards more efficient use of healthcare resources.
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  The Canadian Medical Association hopes that these efforts will inspire other provinces and
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  the federal government to follow suit.
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  By reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers, we can enhance patient
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  care and improve the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
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  And with that, we've reached the end of today's episode.
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  Thank you for joining me on "Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow." I hope you found today's discussions insightful and informative.
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  Remember, stay informed and take care of your health.
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  Until next time, I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, wishing you a wonderful day ahead.