Wellnews by Scott LaFee

New motherhood brings all sorts of joys — and for some, symptoms of obsessive-compulsive behavior. A Northwestern University study found that 11 percent of new mothers experience significant obsessive-compulsive symptoms, compared to 2 to 3 percent of the general population.

The symptoms included things like fear of injuring the baby and worrying about germs.

The researchers said the behaviors might be the result of hormonal changes. Or possibly an evolutionary adaptation.

"It may be that certain kinds of obsessions and compulsions are adaptive and appropriate for a new parent, for example those about cleanliness and hygiene," said study senior author Dana Gossett.

In any event, the researchers noted that the OC symptoms were usually temporary, fading with time and children's irresistible but generally harmless penchant for eating things off the floor.

 

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

A normal swallow takes eight to 12 seconds, from mouth to stomach.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of mild stretching burns 170 calories (based on a 150-pound person) or the equivalent of 0.2 Big Macs.

COUNTS

23,000 -- Genes of human origin in the human body

8,000,000 -- Genes of bacterial or other microbial origin in the human body

99.7 -- Percentage of genes in the human body that are not human --Source: Human Microbiome Project

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

When it comes to effectiveness and cost, it apparently makes no difference whether your doctor is a man or a woman. A UC Davis study of more than 21,000 patients participating in the U.S. Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys from 2002 to 2008 found that physician gender had no effect upon the quality of work or how much it cost.

"Our findings suggest that if the goal is to contain costs and the risk of death, there is no reason to differentially recruit or train physicians of either gender," said lead author Anthony Jerant, a professor of family and community medicine.

The researchers did uncover a few curiosities: They found that female physicians treated more female patients who were young, college educated and resided in urban areas than did male physicians, indicating that these are patient characteristics associated with preferences for male or female doctors.

The study also noted that more female than male physicians are non-Caucasian.

"Female providers are contributing to greater diversity in the health-care provider workforce, which is an important aim both for social equity and to ensure that patients can choose providers they feel comfortable with," said Jerant.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Harpaxophobia -- fear of being robbed

NEVER SAY DIET

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for bologna is 2.76 pounds in six minutes, held by Don Lerman.

Warning: Most of these records are held by professional eaters; the rest by people who really should find something better to do.

OBSERVATION

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying." --Writer-actor-comedian Woody Allen (1935-)

LAST WORDS

"Tell my family and friends I love them. Tell the governor he just lost my vote. Y'all hurry this along, I'm dying to get out of here." --Convicted killer Christopher Scott Emmett (1972-2008), just before his execution in Virginia by lethal injection (He had challenged the legality of lethal injections as cruel and unusual punishment.)

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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