To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Good morning.  December is already zooming by.  Hope your week went well, and hope your weekend is even better.  Here's the weekly recap:

• Imagine going to the doctor for your annual physical.  They take some blood for the usual workup, and this time they also report back to you that there is NO cancer in your body.  Researchers at the University of Queensland (Australia) have come up with a blood test that is 90% accurate in detecting all forms of cancer.  Read that again…ALL forms of cancer.  This may be remembered as one of those watershed moments in medical history. 
• “Biohackers” attempt biological adjustments or enhancements.  Picture the guy who implants devices under the skin of his wrist to allow him to open the car door without a key.  I imagine that soon we’ll see foolhardy folks embedding antennas in their skulls that link to tiny microphones in their ears….or google glasses sewn to their heads. 
• A 45-year old pregnant woman dies of a stroke.  Doctors quickly remove her uterus – with the fetus inside – and surgically place the uterus within a 32-year old woman who was born without a uterus (a rare syndrome).  This had been tried 10 times before unsuccessfully, but this time it worked, and a healthy baby girl is born. 
• What’s In My Food? -- What’s In My Dog’s Food? this week: 
• Salmonella in millions of pounds of raw beef in 25 states could still be in your freezers.  Look for beef labeled with the establishment number “EST. 267” -- this is usually inside the USDA mark of inspection.  From the list of stores and states impacted, I see Sprouts (TN), Harvey’s (GA), and Winn Dixie (GA) 
• Some dog foods such levels of Vitamin D that it can cause kidney failure and death.  Recalls issued for Nature’s Promise (sold at Giant) and Abound (Krogers), plus many others. 
• Oils from garlic, myrrh, thyme, cinnamon, allspice and cumin can kill Lyme disease. 
• You know you need sleep…but how much?  An 8-year study in Europe found that 6-8 hours is the sweet spot.  More than 8 hours increases your risk of heart disease and death:  8-9 hours a night increases risk by 5%; 9-10 hours a night increases risk by 17%; and 10 or more hours of sleep a night increases risk by 41%. 
  
• Study finds that 9 out of 10 UK citizens are leading unhealthy lives, as defined by drinking or eating too much, not exercising, and public displays of affection in the country that originated prudes.