The Dr. Leigh Vinocur Show

Your fitness tracker may be able to save your life in the emergency room. Changes in your heart rate from your tracker can provide doctors with valuable information.A healthy man with a history of seizures forgot to take his medicine one morning. He had a seizure at work, and his blood pressure was high when the ambulance arrived to retrieve him. Using his Fitbit, emergency physicians were able to spot when his atrial fibrulation was triggered and treat him for the condition. If you use a Fitbit, be sure to sync it with your phone so the information is stored in the cloud. This will make the tracked history more accessible. Listen in as Dr. Monika Smith shares with Dr. Leigh Vinocur what happened in the ER that day.

Cosmetics aren't regulated as strictly as food. What's in your makeup may be horrible for your health.The regulations of the cosmetic industry are not as stringent as the food industry. A product "made with organic ingredients" can legitimately contain 30% toxins. Is it really safe for your skin? Your favorite cosmetics may be killing you. Biochemist Dr. Jennifer Dietrich recommends avoiding "Dr. Jen's Dirty Baker's Dozen" ingredients in your cosmetics: Sodium/Ammonium Laurel Sulfate. It gets absorbed by the body and irritates the skin. Parabens. Linked to cancer; causes endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity. Propylene Glycol. This is often contaminated with known carcinogens. Phthalates. Present in many fragrances and linked to endocrine disruption, liver/kidney/lung damage and cancer. Petrolatum. This suffocates the skin, leads to premature aging, aggravates acne, and can be found in breast tumors. Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA. Carcinogens. Diazolidinyl Urea. Releases formaldehyde, causes skin and eye irritation, tends to cause allergic reaction, and can have reproductive side effects. Butyl Acetate. Vapors can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Can cause skin to dry out and crack. Butlated Hydroxytulene. Causes skin and eye irritation. Ethyl Acetate. Dangerous to the respiratory system. Toluene. Disrupts the immune and endocrine systems, as well as fetal development. Triethanolamine. Skin, eye, and hair irritation. High doses can have negative effects on organs. Talc. Linked to ovarian cancer and reproductive problems. Listen in as Dr. Jen explains what to avoid when selecting your makeup.

What are varicose veins and how do you get rid of them?Varicose veins are lumpy, enlarged veins that are usually found in the legs and feet. With the legs and feet supporting the weight of the body, these veins are under a lot of pressure. Varicose veins are often just a cosmetic issue for people. In most cases, the blood can still make its way back to the heart through these twisted cords. However, some varicose veins come with serious medical consequences. There are new treatments for varicose veins that avoid painful and invasive vein stripping. Minimally invasive VenaSeal uses a medical adhesive to close the diseased vein. This a more appealing alternative to surgery for many. Listen in as Dr. Jennifer Watson shares what varicose veins are and what you can do about them.

Birth control pills may help prevent knee injuries in teen girls.A recent study at University of Texas Medical Branch showed that teen girls who take birth control pills may be less likely to suffer knee injuries. Study author Aaron Gray, an MD and PhD student, found an association between these factors but did not find that taking birth control pills prevents knee injuries. Many young athletes take birth control pills for predictable and light periods. Injury risk may be an additional benefit. Listen in as Gray joins Dr. Leigh Vinocur to discuss this study.

A happy childhood can reduce risk of heart disease.A recent study showed that children who had a happier childhood were less likely to suffer from coronary artery calcification. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is the the result of calcium deposits in coronary arteries. CAC causes blood vessels to narrow and harden over time. The study, which was conducted in Finland, analyzed children between three and 18 years and looked at them again 27 years later. Researchers took into consideration the socioeconomic status of the family, the emotional well-being of the family, parental health, stressful events, and the ability to self regulate attention. The more positives they had in these areas, the better their heart health later in life. Cardiologist Dr. Jennifer Haythe joins Dr. Leigh to discuss how childhood happiness (or lack thereof) affects heart health in adulthood.

Your fitness tracker may be able to save your life in the emergency room. Changes in your heart rate from your tracker can provide doctors with valuable information.A healthy man with a history of seizures forgot to take his medicine one morning. He had a seizure at work, and his blood pressure was high when the ambulance arrived to retrieve him. Using his Fitbit, emergency physicians were able to spot when his atrial fibrulation was triggered and treat him for the condition.If you use a Fitbit, be sure to sync it with your phone so the information is stored in the cloud. This will make the tracked history more accessible.Listen in as Dr. Monika Smith shares with Dr. Leigh Vinocur what happened in the ER that day.

Cosmetics aren't regulated as strictly as food. What's in your makeup may be horrible for your health.The regulations of the cosmetic industry are not as stringent as the food industry. A product "made with organic ingredients" can legitimately contain 30% toxins. Is it really safe for your skin?Your favorite cosmetics may be killing you.Biochemist Dr. Jennifer Dietrich recommends avoiding "Dr. Jen's Dirty Baker's Dozen" ingredients in your cosmetics: Sodium/Ammonium Laurel Sulfate. It gets absorbed by the body and irritates the skin. Parabens. Linked to cancer; causes endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity. Propylene Glycol. This is often contaminated with known carcinogens. Phthalates. Present in many fragrances and linked to endocrine disruption, liver/kidney/lung damage and cancer. Petrolatum. This suffocates the skin, leads to premature aging, aggravates acne, and can be found in breast tumors. Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA. Carcinogens. Diazolidinyl Urea. Releases formaldehyde, causes skin and eye irritation, tends to cause allergic reaction, and can have reproductive side effects. Butyl Acetate. Vapors can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Can cause skin to dry out and crack. Butlated Hydroxytulene. Causes skin and eye irritation. Ethyl Acetate. Dangerous to the respiratory system. Toluene. Disrupts the immune and endocrine systems, as well as fetal development. Triethanolamine. Skin, eye, and hair irritation. High doses can have negative effects on organs. Talc. Linked to ovarian cancer and reproductive problems. Listen in as Dr. Jen explains what to avoid when selecting your makeup.

What are varicose veins and how do you get rid of them?Varicose veins are lumpy, enlarged veins that are usually found in the legs and feet. With the legs and feet supporting the weight of the body, these veins are under a lot of pressure.Varicose veins are often just a cosmetic issue for people. In most cases, the blood can still make its way back to the heart through these twisted cords. However, some varicose veins come with serious medical consequences.There are new treatments for varicose veins that avoid painful and invasive vein stripping. Minimally invasive VenaSeal uses a medical adhesive to close the diseased vein. This a more appealing alternative to surgery for many.Listen in as Dr. Jennifer Watson shares what varicose veins are and what you can do about them.

Birth control pills may help prevent knee injuries in teen girls.A recent study at University of Texas Medical Branch showed that teen girls who take birth control pills may be less likely to suffer knee injuries. Study author Aaron Gray, an MD and PhD student, found an association between these factors but did not find that taking birth control pills prevents knee injuries.Many young athletes take birth control pills for predictable and light periods. Injury risk may be an additional benefit.Listen in as Gray joins Dr. Leigh Vinocur to discuss this study.

A happy childhood can reduce risk of heart disease.A recent study showed that children who had a happier childhood were less likely to suffer from coronary artery calcification. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is the the result of calcium deposits in coronary arteries. CAC causes blood vessels to narrow and harden over time.The study, which was conducted in Finland, analyzed children between three and 18 years and looked at them again 27 years later. Researchers took into consideration the socioeconomic status of the family, the emotional well-being of the family, parental health, stressful events, and the ability to self regulate attention. The more positives they had in these areas, the better their heart health later in life.Cardiologist Dr. Jennifer Haythe joins Dr. Leigh to discuss how childhood happiness (or lack thereof) affects heart health in adulthood.

What are some common sources of poison within the home?National Poison Prevention Week is March 20-26. Children are susceptible to poisoning when they are uneducated on the dangers of using or consuming goods that are not meant for little bodies. Adults can be poisoned by errant chemical combinations, using household products incorrectly, overdosing, and taking the wrong medication.Common sources of poisoning: Drugs: prescription, non-prescription, herbal, illegal, or animal medicines Cleaning products that cause burns: drain opener, toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner, rust remover Carbon monoxide gas: leaky furnaces and chimneys, gas stoves and water heaters, generators and space heaters used indoors Auto fluids: antifreeze, windshield washer solution Hydrocarbons: furniture polish, lighter fluid, lamp oil, gasoline, paint thinner, kerosene, turpentine Pesticides: (weed killers, ant and roach killers, mouse and rat poisons, garden chemicals Wild mushrooms Toxicologist and emergency physician, Dr. Paul Kolecki, discusses poison prevention.

What are some common sources of poison within the home?National Poison Prevention Week is March 20-26. Children are susceptible to poisoning when they are uneducated on the dangers of using or consuming goods that are not meant for little bodies. Adults can be poisoned by errant chemical combinations, using household products incorrectly, overdosing, and taking the wrong medication. Common sources of poisoning: Drugs: prescription, non-prescription, herbal, illegal, or animal medicines Cleaning products that cause burns: drain opener, toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner, rust remover Carbon monoxide gas: leaky furnaces and chimneys, gas stoves and water heaters, generators and space heaters used indoors Auto fluids: antifreeze, windshield washer solution Hydrocarbons: furniture polish, lighter fluid, lamp oil, gasoline, paint thinner, kerosene, turpentine Pesticides: (weed killers, ant and roach killers, mouse and rat poisons, garden chemicals Wild mushrooms Toxicologist and emergency physician, Dr. Paul Kolecki, discusses poison prevention.

Who is making your dermatology diagnosis when you use telemedicine?As technology develops and schedules become tighter, telemedicine is a great alternative to an in-person office visit in many cases. There are a number of websites and apps dedicated to dermatology diagnosis. With the options available for telemedicine, the level of care varies. Not everyone on the other end of the app is a dermatologist. Who is making your dermatology diagnosis when you use telemedicine? Listen in as Dr. Carrie Kovarik joins Dr. Leigh to share what to expect from teledermatology.

Women are at risk of worse outcomes among young people undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Women are at risk of worse outcomes among young people undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI is angioplasty with stent, a non-surgical procedure that uses a catheter to place a stent in the heart to open up blood vessels that have been narrowed by plaque buildup. Factors that may influence the risk of target vessel and target lesion failure in women include depression, estrogen state, inflammation, and underlying hematologic and rheumatologic disorders. Listen in as Dr. Robert Willensky discusses the findings of a recent study on these effects.

How can physical activity be incorporated into treatment plans for better overall health?Treatment plans from health care providers usually consist of some combination of dietary changes, taking supplements, and sometimes adding medication. There may be visits to specialists for diagnosis as well, depending on the issues you're trying to address. Exercise can also serve as medicine for the body. Elevating physical activity to the status so it becomes a standard on health care would help preserve and improve patient health. Wouldn't it be nice to get a treatment plan from your doctor that includes the best physical activity to help your condition? Listen in as Dr. Felipe Lobelo discusses how physical activity can be incorporated into treatment plans for better health.