Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Smartphone Downgrades, Food Prices, AI Breast Cancer Prediction

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Smartphone Downgrades, Food Prices, AI Breast Cancer Prediction · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Hello, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.
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  Today, we're diving into a fascinating discussion about a topic that's close to all of
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  us in this digital age: smartphones.
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  Or rather, the idea of living without one.
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  Our first segment focuses on a provocative article by Kara Alaimo, published by CNN, which
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  delves into the potential benefits of switching from a smartphone to a flip phone.
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  You might be surprised to hear that this transition could actually enhance your social
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  life and free up more of your time.
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  According to August Lamm, a visual artist and activist from upstate New York, who shares her
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  insights in her book, "You Don't Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading
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  Your Phone and Upgrading Your Life," the advantages of ditching your smartphone might
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  just outweigh the inconveniences.
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  Lamm, who celebrated her 27th birthday by getting rid of her smartphone in 2022,
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  describes feeling addicted to her device and realized she was spending more time on it than
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  on her art.
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  Her book is a blend of personal experience, arguments for why you might consider a similar
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  change, and practical advice on how to make it work.
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  Interestingly, science seems to support Lamm's claims.
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  The Office of the United States Surgeon General reports that teenagers between 13 and 18 years
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  old spend over eight hours a day on screens, which can negatively impact their physical and
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  mental health.
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  Lamm argues that without a smartphone, she has formed deeper connections with others, as she
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  is fully present in social situations and more intentional in her friendships.
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  When her friends wanted to share news or updates, they had to reach out directly, either
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  by phone or in person, rather than broadcasting it on social media.
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  This kind of direct communication fosters deeper relationships as it requires more effort
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  and intention.
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  Lamm also points out that people often use their phones to escape unpleasant feelings.
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  Without this digital crutch, she had to confront her emotions directly and find
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  healthier ways to cope, such as reaching out to friends, reading, or engaging in physical
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  activity.
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  Another intriguing point Lamm makes is about time management.
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  Many assume smartphones save us time, but Lamm discovered she actually gained more free time
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  without one.
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  Without the constant distraction of notifications and social media, she found she
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  was able to focus better and be more productive.
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  Lamm also talks about reclaiming skills we might have lost due to reliance on technology,
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  like navigating without GPS or remembering phone numbers.
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  She suggests that these skills are innate to us, and we can naturally regain them when we
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  step away from our devices.
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  Finally, Lamm describes feeling more present in her surroundings without the constant pull of a
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  smartphone.
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  She emphasizes that being present means being comfortable with the moment you're in, without
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  feeling the need to compare it to other experiences or fill it with digital
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  distractions.
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  For those hesitant to give up their smartphones, Lamm advises trying it for a month
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  to see how it affects you.
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  For those who need certain apps for health reasons, she suggests using a "dumb phone" for
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  daily use and keeping the smartphone as a medical device.
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  This thought-provoking discussion raises important questions about how we use technology
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  and its impact on our lives.
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  Perhaps it's time to consider whether a flip phone might be an upgrade after all.
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  Today, we're turning our attention to the surging prices of some of our most basic
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  grocery staples.
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  According to a recent article from CBC's Marketplace, five particular items have seen
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  their prices skyrocket this year, outpacing general inflation.
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  These items are ground beef, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers.
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  Each of these staples has been affected by a unique set of factors that have contributed to
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  the price increases.
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  Jim Stanford, an economist, and Mike von Massow, an agriculture professor, have pointed
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  out several key reasons behind these rising costs.
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  They cite climate change as a significant disruptor, impacting agricultural yields and
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  causing supply shortages.
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  For instance, extreme weather conditions have affected the growth cycles of tomatoes and
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  lettuce, leading to reduced supply and higher prices.
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  Immigration policies have also played a role.
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  Changes in these policies have affected the labor market for agriculture, making it more
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  difficult for farmers to find the workers they need to harvest crops efficiently.
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  This labor shortage has led to increased costs in production and, consequently, higher prices
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  for consumers.
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  Tariffs have further complicated the situation.
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  With trade tensions affecting the global market, the cost of importing goods has
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  increased.
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  This is particularly relevant for items like cucumbers, which may be imported from regions
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  where tariffs have been imposed, driving up their prices in local markets.
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  Retailer pricing strategies are another factor.
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  Some retailers have been adjusting their prices in response to these external pressures, often
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  passing the increased costs onto consumers.
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  While this might be an attempt to maintain profit margins, it results in the consumer
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  feeling the pinch at the checkout.
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  The Canadian government has recognized the need to address these rising food costs.
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  They are exploring strategies to make food more affordable, though specifics on these plans are
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  still developing.
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  It's a complex issue that involves balancing the needs of consumers, producers, and the
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  wider economy.
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  This situation highlights the intricate web of factors that influence the prices of everyday
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  essentials.
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  It's a reminder of how interconnected our world is and how changes in one area can ripple
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  through to affect us all.
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  As consumers, staying informed about these dynamics can help us better understand the
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  challenges we face and possibly adapt our purchasing habits accordingly.
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  "The public should not be subject to these quack medicines," said Doctor Jeffrey Klausner,
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  M.D., M.P.H., of Herpes Cure Advocacy.
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  This was in response to the news that the Food and Drug Administration had warned Amazon
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  against selling unapproved herpes treatments.
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  Klausner's comments underscore the ongoing concern about the availability of unapproved
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  medical products on major retail platforms.
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  Such products can pose significant health risks, as they have not undergone the rigorous
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  testing and approval processes required by regulatory agencies.
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  Doctor Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., M.P.H., former Director of the National Institute of Allergy
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  and Infectious Diseases, expressed her disappointment with the federal government's
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  response to the measles outbreak in the United States.
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  "The response has been extremely underwhelming and frankly shameful," she stated.
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  This highlights the need for a more robust and coordinated public health response to contain
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  outbreaks and protect public health.
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  Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, R.N., Ph.D., president of the American Nurses Association, commented
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  on the political landscape with a focus on the healthcare sector.
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  "Look at the number of lawyers in office.
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  We should have more nurses," she remarked, pointing to the 18 nurses running for Congress
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  in this election.
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  Kennedy's statement emphasizes the importance of having healthcare professionals in
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  legislative roles to ensure that health policy decisions are informed by practical,
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  on-the-ground experience.
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  Doctor Sanjay Saint, M.D., of Northwell Health in Lake Success, New York, discussed the
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  importance of patient safety in hospitals.
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  He noted that "hospitals increasingly recognize that avoiding unnecessary catheter placement
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  and reducing catheter duration are central to patient safety." This reflects a growing trend
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  in U.S.
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  hospitals to adopt strategies that prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections,
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  which can significantly enhance patient outcomes and reduce hospital stays.
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  Doctor Brian Jenssen, M.D., M.S.H.P., of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,
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  highlighted a gap in current health assessments.
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  "When we ask about smoking in the home, we need to ask about vaping, too," he said, discussing
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  a study of children with asthma who were exposed to vaping and combustible tobacco.
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  Jenssen's observation calls for healthcare providers to update their screening practices
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  to better address the modern landscape of tobacco use.
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  Doctor Joshua Lieberman, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Washington School of Medicine in
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  Seattle, raised concerns about a spike in a rare but deadly fungal infection.
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  "It's alarming that it occurs outside of those typical high-risk populations who have pretty
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  profound immunosuppression," he remarked.
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  Lieberman's comments highlight the need for further research and awareness about this
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  infection, which appears to be affecting a broader range of individuals than previously
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  thought.
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  Doctor Mohamed Khattab, M.D., of the University of South Florida in Tampa, discussed promising
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  findings from a small study on radiosurgical capsulotomy for treatment-resistant depression
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  and suicidal ideation.
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  "So, is this a life-saving treatment?
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  Potentially," he stated.
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  Khattab's comments suggest that this innovative approach could offer hope for patients who have
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  not responded to traditional treatments, though more extensive studies are needed to confirm
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  its efficacy.
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  Doctor Richard Rosen, M.D., of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City,
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  commented on a study of optogenetic therapy aimed at inducing light sensitivity in ocular
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  ganglion cells of patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa.
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  "I see a fair number of these patients and we have nothing to offer them," he said,
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  highlighting the current limitations in treatment options for this condition.
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  Rosen's remarks point to the potential of optogenetic therapy to provide new avenues for
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  treatment, although it remains in the experimental stages.
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  Our final segment today explores a groundbreaking advancement in breast cancer
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  screening using artificial intelligence.
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  According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, researchers
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  at New York University Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center have developed an AI
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  tool designed to predict a woman's risk of developing breast cancer within the next five
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  years.
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  This tool analyzes several years of a woman's three-dimensional mammograms to track changes
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  in breast tissue over time, rather than relying solely on the most recent scan.
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  This approach allows the AI to uncover hidden patterns and clues that might indicate an
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  increased risk of cancer, which traditional methods might overlook.
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  The study utilized over 313,000 mammograms from more than 161,000 women to develop the model.
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  Experts like Connie Lehman, a breast imaging specialist and professor of radiology at
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  Harvard Medical School, believe this technology could help identify women whose elevated risk
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  might otherwise go unnoticed.
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  Lehman emphasizes that, for many women, a breast cancer diagnosis can come as a shock,
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  especially if they have no family history of the disease.
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  She notes that traditional risk assessments consider factors like family history and
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  genetic mutations, but AI can delve deeper into the nuances of breast tissue itself.
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  By providing a more comprehensive risk assessment, this technology could enable
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  doctors to tailor breast cancer screening to each woman's individual risk.
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  Women identified as having an increased risk might discuss additional screening options,
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  such as magnetic resonance imaging, with their healthcare providers.
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  Meanwhile, women at average risk could continue with routine mammograms.
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  It's important to note that an AI risk score is not a definitive cancer diagnosis.
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  It cannot predict with absolute certainty whether a woman will develop the disease.
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  However, a higher risk score could prompt valuable conversations about additional
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  screening and risk-reduction strategies.
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  Currently, the New York University model is still a research tool and has not yet been
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  authorized for clinical use by the Food and Drug Administration.
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  Researchers plan to test the model with data from other medical centers and different
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  three-dimensional mammography systems to ensure its applicability and accuracy.
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  This exciting development in AI technology has the potential to revolutionize how we approach
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  breast cancer screening and risk assessment.
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  By integrating advanced tools like this, we can hope to catch potential issues earlier and
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  tailor preventative measures more effectively.
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  And with that, we've reached the end of today's episode.
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  I hope you found our discussions enlightening and thought-provoking.
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  Thank you for joining me on Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Until next time, stay informed and take care of your health.