In an editorial in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), experts report that Of the 600,000 ski- and snowboard-related injuries each year, up to 20% result in traumatic brain injury (TBI)…many times resulting in serious disability or death. The editorial calls for a widespread change in the culture of snow sports so …
University of Michigan researchers have reported that a simple test that measures reaction time can help detect and diagnose concussion in athletes. In the study, athletes were tested once at the beginning of their sport season—they had to catch a weighted cylinder dropped by their coach. Their reaction time was measured. Then, if one of …
Emergency room doctors dread each new snow because they know that sledding accidents are soon to follow. This story in the Raleigh News & Observer highlights the danger of high-speed sledding–when cars tow snow-riders for that extra thrill. Too often, accidents cause severe injuries, including head injuries and even death. The white stuff is fun, …
Croasdaile Village retirement community has been hit with an outbreak of the highly contagious Norovirus. According to a report in today’s News & Observer, the campus has been closed to visitors for at least a week while workers scrub down the place. The Norovirus lives on hard surfaces, so it can be picked up by …
Relying on a star rating system usually works well for choosing a movie for an evening’s entertainment. But even then, we’ve all learned that some 5-star movies leave us cold, and that no one review can perfectly address our personal preferences and needs. When choosing a nursing home, the ratings are even less helpful. A …
Man wakes from coma to meet his new granddaughter…could there be a more heartwarming message about the power of love?
Bad news all around: Favorite store chain Trader Joe’s has issued a nationwide recall of its “Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars.” It has the potential to contain salmonella, which can cause moderate to severe gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and abdominal pain. In some people, more severe and long-term illnesses can result. The …
The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of 12-ounce packages of “Applegate Farms Certified Organic Fire Roasted Red Pepper Fully Cooked Chicken & Turkey Sausage.” The recalled packages have a use/freeze date of February 28, 2010. The contaminated products were distributed in several states, including North Carolina. The sausage has been recalled …
Ride for Brain Injury…Ride for our Troops…Ride for Safety…Ride for the Rock!
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who have damage to a part of the brain called the amygdala seem to lose the natural fear of losing money. They understand the value of money, and they have a normal, excited response to money as a reward…they just …