Wellnews by Scott LaFee

Two new studies suggest many people can't walk and talk (on a cell phone) simultaneously — at least not safely. The studies, in which participants crossed a virtual street while talking on the phone or listening to music, found that cell phone chatterers (even those employing hands-free devices) took longer to cross the street, and thus were more likely to get run over. Oddly enough, the music listeners weren't similarly affected.

Cell phone users older than 60 were particularly impaired, in part perhaps because they were often less steady on their feet to begin with, researchers at the University of Illinois said. They tended to get run over (virtually speaking) about 15 percent more often than similarly aged pedestrians not talking on a cell phone.

"Many people assume that walking is so automatic that really nothing will get in the way," said Art Kramer, a professor of psychology. "And walking is pretty automatic, but actually walking in environments that have lots of obstacles is perhaps not as automatic as one might think."

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

An Ohio State University study found that a sports fan's greatest enjoyment comes only when he or she fears at some point during a watched game that the other team is going to win.

"Negative emotions play a key role in how much we enjoy sports," said Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, an associate professor of communication at OSU. "You don't want to be in a great mood during the whole game if you really want to enjoy it."

GET ME THAT.

STAT!

Adults who use pet therapy while recovering from total joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less pain medication than those who do not, according to a Loyola University Health System study. Pet therapy involves using specially trained dogs able to perform more than 40 commands designed to motivate, rehabilitate or soothe patients with special needs.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of sitting quietly watching television burns 68 calories (based on a 150-pound person) or the equivalent of 0.1 Big Macs with cheese.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Ataxophobia: fear of disorder or untidiness

OBSERVATION

It's no longer a question of staying healthy. It's a question of finding a sickness you like.

— Comedian Jackie Mason

NUMBER CRUNCHER

A single serving of beef with broccoli from Panda Express (154 grams) contains 150 calories, 63 from fat. It has 7 grams of total fat, or 11 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet. It also contains 25 milligrams of cholesterol (8 percent); 510 mg of sodium (21 percent); 11 g of total carbohydrates (4 percent); 4 g of dietary fiber (16 percent); 3 g of sugars and 11 g of protein.

MEDTRONICA

Exotic pet vet

exoticpetvet.net

Is your pet boa or monkey ailing? This website is written by a board-certified avian veterinarian with 25 years of exotic pet experience. Read the latest, for example, on bacterial issues and parrots.

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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