Ohio State Experts on the News
Week of May 30, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University has experts you can interview for some of the big topics in the news this week. Contact information is included with each expert listed below. For general questions, please contact Chris Booker at 614-292-7276 or Booker.9@osu.edu
Warm weather signals start of summer trauma season
During the summer months, emergency departments nationwide see an uptick in the number of patients who’ve suffered traumas, such as motor vehicle accidents, burns and sports injuries. People are traveling, spending time outdoors grilling and enjoying firepits and fireworks, and participating in activities like boating, bike riding and swimming. The summer heat and sun can increase the risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke and sunburn.
Dr. Mark Conroy, emergency medicine physician, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, can discuss trauma trends and how to protect your health during the summertime.
To schedule an interview, contact Serena Smith at serena.smith@osumc.edu.
Your thoughts can harm your neck and back during lifting tasks
The mental distress of cognitive dissonance – encountering information that conflicts with how we act or what we believe – can lead to added pressure on the neck and low back during lifting and lowering tasks, new research suggests.
When study participants were told they were performing poorly in a precision lowering experiment in the lab, after initially being told they were doing well, their movements were linked to increased loads on vertebrae in their neck and low back.
The finding suggests cognitive dissonance may be a previously unidentified risk factor for neck and low back pain, which could have implications for risk prevention in the workplace, according to senior author William Marras, executive director of the Spine Research Institute at The Ohio State University. Marras can discuss the study and its implications for back and neck health.
To schedule an interview, contact Emily Caldwell at caldwell.151@osu.edu
Do you know the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease?
As you get older, it may become more difficult to remember dates and names or multitask. But when you’re unable to perform daily tasks of living, such as how to use a toothbrush or get dressed, memory loss can be more than a normal sign of aging.
Because an early Alzheimer's diagnosis provides a better chance of benefiting from treatment, it’s important to recognize early warning signs.
With June being Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Dr. Douglas Scharre, neurologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, recommends the SAGE test, a free, 12-question test that assesses a person’s cognitive abilities. He can also discuss the signs of Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of memory screenings.
To schedule an interview, contact Eileen Scahill at Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day is Monday, June 5
An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 25% of them have had the disease since 1996, making them long-term survivors. Despite advances in medicine that have kept HIV-positive patients healthy for decades, some resist seeking help either because of stigma or lack of awareness.
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day is a time to highlight the needs, issues and challenges facing people living longest with HIV/AIDS. Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, including Dr. Susan Koletar, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases and Principal Investigator, AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, have been at the forefront of developing new drugs and treatments. She can discuss treatment innovations and long-term survival.
To schedule an interview, contact Eileen Scahill at Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu
