RSS Feedhttp:// RSS Feeden{FC7307F0-DB82-49AC-83B1-CDB93954B734} in on the Healthy Hikes Contest<p>Summer is in full swing, which means it&rsquo;s time to get out there and get hiking! </p> <p>Besides being a great summer activity, hiking also offers a variety of health benefits:</p> <ul> <li>Improves heart, lung, and blood vessel fitness</li> <li>Improves muscle fitness</li> <li>Lowers risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes</li> <li>Reduces depression and improves sleep quality</li> </ul> <p>To help you and your family hit the trails, we&rsquo;ve created <a href="/live-well/move-well/healthy-hikes/">LiVe Well Healthy Hikes</a>: 80 trail guides that are the perfect companion to summer adventuring with photos and directions to Utah&rsquo;s best hiking spots.</p> <p>And because we really want to inspire you to get down with nature and up with a healthy lifestyle, we&rsquo;re kicking off a Healthy Hikes contest!</p> <strong>How Do I Play?</strong> <ol> <li>Every weekend, we&rsquo;ll hide a laminated prize card at two of the <a href="/live-well/move-well/healthy-hikes/">Healthy Hikes trails</a>.</li> <li>We&rsquo;ll announce the weekend&rsquo;s prize trails, along with coordinates and clues, on <a href="" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </li> <li>If you find the prize card: <ul> <li>Take a selfie with the prize card Tag @Intermountain </li> <li>Share on Facebook or Twitter </li> </ul> </li> <li>You win, and we&rsquo;ll send you instructions on how to redeem your prize!</li> </ol> <strong>What Can I Win?</strong> <p>We&rsquo;ve got a whole pile of awesome prizes you can get your hands on:</p> <ul> <li>Gift cards of all sorts</li> <li>National park passes</li> <li>Trail running shoes</li> <li>And more cool stuff!</li> </ul> <p>This only lasts for 5 weekends, so dust off the old hiking shoes, pack your snacks, and get hiking! We&rsquo;ll see you on the trail.</p>Fri, 11 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0600{9695CB14-1508-4078-80BA-F6ED3036F9B6} the Most out of the Farmers Market<p>While summer is rife with fun family activities, one of our favorites has to be hitting up our community farmers markets. Besides being a great way to get outside and interact with your community, farmers markets are the perfect way to load up on fresh, locally grown produce that&rsquo;s good for your health and your budget.</p> <strong>Why Shop at Farmers Markets?</strong> <ol> <li><strong>Try new fruits and vegetables </strong><br /> You&rsquo;ll be surrounded by a plethora of ripe and delectable fruits and vegetables that you wouldn&rsquo;t necessarily try otherwise. Rhubarb? Bok Choy? Try it out and find a new favorite food!</li><br /> <li><strong>Buy freshly picked food at its peak in flavor and nutrition</strong> <br /> You&rsquo;ll have access to the freshest food around, making it easy and delicious to fill your plate with the full spectrum of nutritional goodness your body needs.</li><br /> <li><strong>Get the kids involved</strong><br /> Farmers markets give kids a great opportunity to learn where their food comes from and try new things. They can pick new fruits and vegetables to try and help you plan meals and snacks using what they find.</li><br /> <li><strong>Support local farmers and the environment </strong><br /> When you shop at farmers markets, you&rsquo;re supporting local farmers and small business owners in your community. Plus, eating local food cuts down on the money and resources usually needed to ship food to you. </li><br /> <li><strong>Learn the tricks of the trade</strong> <br /> Farmers love to talk shop and offer tips on how to prepare the foods they&rsquo;re offering. No idea how to cook kohlrabi? Chances are the farmer will be thrilled to offer tried and true tips and tricks.</li> </ol> <strong>Farmers Market Tips</strong> <ol> <li><strong>Go early or go late </strong><br /> Farmers markets can be crowded, so plan to catch it right as it opens or just before they close. Mornings are perfect for beating the heat and getting first dibs, but afternoons are great for catching deals.</li><br /> <li><strong>Bring cash and bags </strong><br /> Most farmers only accept cash, so bring a budgeted amount, preferably in small change. This makes transactions quick and easy. And don&rsquo;t forget to bring your reusable tote to carry all your goods! Bring a couple, just in case you find something you weren&rsquo;t planning on buying. </li><br /> <li><strong>Know your seasons </strong><br /> Familiarize yourself with what grows in your area in which season. This makes planning and budgeting a little easier. You can always ask the farmers what to expect in the upcoming weeks, too!</li><br /> <li><strong>Don&rsquo;t be shy </strong><br /> Don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask the farmer anything and everything! Is it organic? How fresh is it? Is it in or out of season? Learn all you can about the farm and the food to become an empowered consumer.</li><br /> <li><strong>Buy in bulk</strong> <br /> Farmers often offer better deals if you buy in bulk. Try canning it, freezing it, or drying it to enjoy your fresh farmers market finds throughout the year.</li> </ol> <p>If you&rsquo;re not sure where or how to find farmers markets in your area, check out the USDA Farmers Markets Search. You can search by zip code, payment method, and more.</p> <p>So, get out there and enjoy that locally grown produce, support local farmers, and have a healthful summer!</p>Fri, 11 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0600{80829B03-2802-4021-A87C-DFEE6D7DC903} Prevention Program Best Practices<p>Seventeen suicides took place in Syracuse between March 2012 and March 2013 &mdash; and Jamie Nagle, who was Mayor of the small community at the time, decided something had to be done and enlisted help from Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. Kristy Jones, Community Projects Coordinator at McKay-Dee, met with Mayor Nagle in January 2013 to explore possible solutions and together they decided to start by hosting a town hall meeting where they could address the problem as a community and educate people about the signs and symptoms of suicide and how to respond appropriately. </p> <h3>Gathering people in positions of influence who could help change dangerous behaviors </h3> <p>Nagle and Jones knew that to maximize their impact, they&rsquo;d have to get influential people to the meeting, including members of the medical community, clergy, educators, law enforcement officials, legislators, and representatives from the suicide prevention organization NUHOPE (Northern Utah Hold On, Persuade, Empower). </p> <p>The meeting was held March 23, 2013, at Syracuse High School where 325 people attended. When Mayor Nagle and Ms. Jones first met in January, 12 suicides had occurred in Syracuse since the previous March. By the night of the town hall meeting, five more had been documented. At the meeting, the mother of a young girl who had committed suicide shared her experience and stressed the importance of suicide prevention programs. Those in attendance were offered a variety of resources and educated on how to respond to the symptoms of suicide through the QPR &mdash; or Question, Persuade, and Refer&mdash; method.</p> <p>&ldquo;We could have never garnered the initial support we needed to launch our suicide prevention efforts in Syracuse and surrounding communities without the town hall meeting,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;Gathering so many influential figures together was vital to our success.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>The meeting was just the beginning</strong></p> <p>After the meeting, the city of Syracuse started setting up suicide prevention measures throughout the community. One of their most effective steps was the creation of HOPE Squads in the Syracuse and Clearfield high schools. To form a squad in each of the schools, students were asked which of their peers they&rsquo;d feel most comfortable approaching if they had a problem. From the list of students who were named, a HOPE Squad was formed at each school. Its members were trained in the Question/Persuade/Refer method and in other preventive measures.</p> <p>&ldquo;Since we had our town meeting and formed the HOPE Squads in our schools, we&rsquo;ve seen a dramatic reduction in suicides,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;As of one month ago, we&rsquo;ve only reported one suicide in Syracuse in the past 15 months. HOPE Squads and other efforts have continued to expand in the community. More and more teens are being taught the signs and symptoms of suicide &mdash; and more lives are being saved as a result.&rdquo; </p> <p>The town hall meeting and the HOPE Squads were part of a larger organization called NUHOPE, a task force formed in 2007 at McKay-Dee Hospital. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t implement the suicide prevention work we do without the financial support of the McKay-Dee Hospital Foundation,&rdquo; said Jones. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t just have a meeting and leave it at that. We&rsquo;ve been working hard in our schools and community ever since, and it&rsquo;s paying off.&rdquo;</p> <p>Their success in Syracuse is being noticed by other communities and the city&rsquo;s methods are being shared and implemented to help prevent suicide in a variety of other locations. &ldquo;Our model is being shared statewide as a best practice,&rdquo; said Jones.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m inspired by the way McKay-Dee Hospital stepped in to help prevent suicides within their community and by the success they&rsquo;ve seen,&rdquo; said Mikelle Moore, VP of Community Benefit for Intermountain Healthcare. &ldquo;And what&rsquo;s most inspiring to me is this is just one wonderful example of how Intermountain hospitals are continually partnering with their communities to successfully confront issues that threaten the health of our populations.&rdquo;</p> <p> </p> <p><hr /> </p> <h3>&nbsp;Facts about suicide in Utah </h3> <ul> <li>Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in Utah overall the second leading cause for young people ages 10 to 17 </li> <li>545 Utahns died from suicide in 2012 and 598 teens attempted suicide </li> <li>Over the past 10 years, Utah&rsquo;s national ranking in suicides has ranged from seventh to sixteenth highest in the nation and fifth in the number of teen deaths</li> <li>Utah ranks first in the nation in terms of serious suicidal ideation: One in 15 adults has thought seriously about suicide</li> <li>McKay-Dee Hospital&rsquo;s ER sees an average of 696 suicide attempts per year</li> </ul>Thu, 03 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0600{53ABD13A-325E-4282-9FEA-9D5F6662D349} Burn Injuries from Fireworks<p><strong>What is the first thing I should do if a burn occurs?</strong></p> <p>The most important thing to do first is make sure it is clean and dry. In all cases you should be able to use a mild soap and lukewarm water to clean and sanitize the wound.</p> <p><strong>Are topical ointments recommended? </strong></p> <p>Using Neosporin or other topical ointment isn&rsquo;t necessarily required in all situations. Sometimes, using it excessively can keep the wound moist and can delay the healing process to some degree. If you initially cleaned the wound and can keep it clean and dry, you may not need an antibiotic ointment at all. </p> <p><strong>How can I manage the pain if I&rsquo;ve been burned?</strong></p> <p>Most individuals with burns can take an ibuprofen or Tylenol at the recommended over-the-counter dosage to mange pain. There are also some topical pain relievers that can be used, such as burn free wipes; which have a light dose of numbing medication in them. Always be sure to follow the guidelines provided on the packaging of the pain-relieving medications. </p> <p><strong>When should I seek the help of a Physician or Practitioner for my burn? </strong></p> <p>As a general guideline, if the size of the wound is bigger than the palm of your hand it may need a second opinion or further evaluation. If the burn occurs around the eyes, nose, ears, toes, and fingers, regardless of size, it&rsquo;s recommended that a practitioner evaluate you - as the wound may become problematic. Lastly, if you notice symptoms of the wound becoming infected (i.e. increased pain, fevering, streaking redness, etc.) you should see a physician. </p> <p><strong>How can I reduce the scaring from my burn?</strong></p> <p>Be sure to protect the scab from being torn or peeled off. As the scab comes of maturely, protecting the new skin underneath the scab with sunblock can help reduce scaring.</p>Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0600{E1C52D46-94AA-4C5D-BE81-4A4E72A7A3FB} Through Your Next Plateau<ol> <li><strong>Track your nutrition</strong>. This one always gets a few groans, but the truth is that in a lot of cases people underestimate their calorie intake. Account for every meal, snack and beverage for at least a week and see where there is room for improvement.</li> <li><strong>Tweak your workouts</strong>. It is a common mistake to always do the same routine. Your body adapts to changes fairly rapidly so when it gets used to a load, it needs a new type of load. You can look at changing the exercise itself (there are multiple ways to work each muscle group) or use the acronym FIT (frequency, intensity, time) and manipulate one variable at a time. </li> <li><strong>Be active on your rest days</strong>. This doesn&rsquo;t mean to get in another day at the gym, but it might be fun to use this as a day for tracking your steps. Compete with yourself and try to improve your number each rest day. Steps equal calories burned and can be the small change needed to overcome your plateau. </li> <li><strong>Tell a friend about your fitness goals</strong>. That friend can be a person that holds your feet to the fire. When you share your goals, you know someone is watching to see if you succeed or fail. That can be a powerful motivator. &nbsp;</li> </ol> <p>Be diligent in your process. Know that small changes can mean big dividends in the end. &nbsp;At the <a href="">LiVe Well Center &ndash; Salt Lake</a>, we help many of our patients push through their plateau through a variety of services we provide, such as knowing their resting calorie intake, strength training assessments or ways to change up exercise routines.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re in a rut or don&rsquo;t know where to begin &ndash; give us a call.</p>Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0600{9E772AE3-0BC4-4F01-8429-D66208176914} to Prevent Injuries from Fireworks this July<p>Studies show that roughly 10,000 people are injured due to firework-related accidents, annually. The highest risk of these injuries include age groups 10 and under, as well as 15-24, with the majority of injuries occurring to the extremities (55%).&nbsp;</p> <strong>Protect you and your family this summer by practicing these helpful tips.</strong><br /> <ol> <li>Do not allow young children to play with fireworks under any circumstances. Sparklers, which are considered by many as the &ldquo;safe&rdquo; firework for the young, burn at very high temperatures and can easily ignite clothing. (Sparklers are the primary source of injury for children under five)</li> <li>Close Adult supervision is always required when handling and lighting fireworks.</li> <li>Use Fireworks in an area clear of other fireworks, combustible materials like wood and grass, buildings and other people.&nbsp;</li> <li>Do not attempt to re-light a device that did not discharge the first time it was lit.&nbsp;</li> <li>Never try to relight or handle fireworks that won&rsquo;t light. Just soak the firework with water and throw it away.</li> <li>Wear tight clothing to avoid accidental contact with sparks or lighting equipment.&nbsp;</li> <li>Store fireworks in a dry, cool place. Check instructions for special storage directions.</li> <li>Always keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that don&rsquo;t go off.</li> <li>Older children should only use fireworks under adult supervision. Do not allow running or horseplay.</li> <li>Never shoot fireworks in mental or glass containers.</li> </ol> <img height="906" alt="Firework_Safety-infographic-Blog2" width="700" src="/~/media/Images/Modules/Firework_Safety-infographic-Blog2.jpg" /><br />Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0600{F4678C23-F5AE-4790-93CF-1714BF1338B7} Your Body&#39;s Energy<p>Do you sometimes struggle with a lack of energy that keeps you from doing all the things you want to do? If you wonder what your life would be like with more energy, there are steps you can take to achieve it. Think about what you can do to <a href="/live-well/eat-well/">LiVe Well</a>... we have some ideas.&nbsp;</p> <p>First, consider foods that provide energy to the body. Food that grows in a garden, and reaches above ground toward the sun will obtain energy from the sun, and contain more chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps blood cells produce energy. When we eat food that contains energy, we transfer that energy into our bodies. Foods that contain chlorophyll include broccoli, celery, kale, romaine lettuce, parsley, and spinach. Most of these are easy to grow in a backyard garden. </p> <p>Other foods that can help with energy include: </p> <ul> <li><strong>Almonds</strong>, which contain magnesium. Magnesium improves the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.</li> <li><strong>Legumes</strong>, (beans, peas, and lentils) are good for your kidneys and help to stabilize blood sugar. They provide a more &ldquo;grounded&rdquo; type of energy. </li> <li><strong>Celery</strong> and <strong>cucumbers</strong>, are whole foods that help to hydrate your body resulting in increased energy. Our bodies are 75% water, and hydration is energizing. </li> <li><strong>Complex carbohydrates</strong>, such as whole wheat and brown rice contain serotonin, which boosts your mood and energy levels. </li> <li><strong>Dark chocolate</strong>, in small amounts, can boost your energy and mood. Just remember to eat a small piece rather than an entire bar. For optimum health benefits, looks for a minimum of 60% raw cocoa. </li> </ul> <p>In addition to food, there are many factors that contribute to energy levels, such as water consumption and sleep. If you are sleep-deprived or don&rsquo;t drinks enough water then you should consider some lifestyle changes. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep each night. Set an alarm on your phone every hour during the day to remind you to drink more water. </p> <p>Avoid energy thieves such as pre-packaged, processed foods. These foods often contain added chemicals and preservatives needed to prolong shelf-life, but not your life. Watch out for caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and energy drinks. Unfortunately, those are temporary energy boosters often leave you more tired than before you started. Coffee and tea are fine in moderation, but not if you are drinking them all day long. </p> <p>Remember, in order to get energized, eat more whole foods and less processed foods, get at least eight hours of sleep each night, and drink more water. For more tips and living well, visit <a href="/live-well/"></a>.&nbsp;</p>Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0600{D6DF1FAF-B998-40EA-BE91-9B00A730ACD2} is Men&#39;s Health Month: Know When to Get ScreenedSince June is Men&rsquo;s Health month here is a little advice to get you or the men in your life to make routine, preventative health care a priority. Here are three areas of men&rsquo;s health that can be addressed now with minimal effort. <p style="background: white;">It&rsquo;s only with time and age that we start to feel new symptoms, or we lose some of our normal capabilities. So we start to think, 'what can I do to maintain this body, this mind?'</p> <p style="background: white;">The first high risk factor for men is heart disease. Heart disease would be the major cause of death and health problems from age 30-60. Signs to watch for include:</p> <ul> <li>Quick fatigue with exercise or activity</li> <li>Chest discomfort or pain in the neck</li> <li>Sometimes radiating to the shoulders or arms</li> </ul> <p style="background: white;">If that is happening, it&rsquo;s time to get an evaluation. Usually, if it is not [quickly relieved] and staying with you, it&rsquo;s time for a 911 call.</p> <p style="background: white;">The second risk factor for men is cancer. However, this is usually a different form of cancer in the younger men than in the older men.</p> <p style="background: white;"><strong>Men&rsquo;s Health Screenings By Age Group:</strong></p> <blockquote style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"> <p style="background: white;"><strong>Men in their 20s </strong>need to pay extra attention to their skin and watch out for testicular growths or masses. Those things also can be reviewed with a physician on a regular basis.</p> <p style="background: white;"><strong>Men at age 40-50</strong>, have additional types of cancer that become a greater risk. Colon cancer is often quiet until it is quite advanced. A colonoscopy screening should be scheduled for all men at age 50, and those with a family history of colon cancers should start screening at an earlier age.</p> <p style="background: white;"><strong>Men ages 50-70</strong> should be checked for prostate cancer. This can begin in the 40s, but screenings can start in the 50s, 60s and 70s.</p> </blockquote> <p style="background: white;">The third major health risk in men is that of accidental death. Men generally are risk takers and very often do not necessarily think of safety precautions. There are some easy precautionary steps men can take:</p> <ul> <li>Wear seat belts</li> <li>Make sure your home has proper fire and carbon monoxide detection</li> <li>Wear helmets and other safety equipment when engaging in physical<br /> <ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <span style="background-color: white;"> <div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /> </span></div> Other important screenings include:</span> <div><br /> <ul> <li><strong>High cholesterol.</strong> Beginning at age 35, men should get their cholesterol checked regularly&mdash;at least every five years. Men younger than age 35 could benefit from cholesterol testing if they smoke, have high blood pressure or diabetes, or have a family history of heart disease.</li> <li><strong>High blood pressure. </strong>All men should get their blood pressure checked at least every two years&mdash;or more often, if recommended by a health care provider.</li> <li><strong>Diabetes.</strong> Men should schedule a blood glucose test for diabetes if they have elevated cholesterol or high blood pressure. They should also have this test if they notice symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent thirst and urination, fatigue, and blurred vision. Healthy men should get screened every three years, starting at age 50.<br /> <ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><strong>Speak with your doctor about the right method of screening for you.</strong> The age at which you begin screening depends on several things, including family history and your ethnicity. You and your doctor will decide which screening method (physical exam or blood test), if any, is best for your situation.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; background: white;">The best preventative care starts early with a diet that is healthy and regular physical exercise. Pay attention to maintaining our weight and find ways to cope and deal with our stresses that are healthy and productive.</p> </div>Fri, 20 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0600{8EA63001-1F4E-4129-AD81-C6536EA29E0C} Tips for a Summer to Remember<p>As a child growing up in South Africa, I have wonderful memories of vacation times filled with adventures to faraway places like Cape Town, Durban, and the Kruger National Park; as well as hiking, picnicking, cave hunting and swimming close to home. Decades later, and living halfway across the world in Utah, kids can have just as much fun and be as safe as I was, with a tweak here and there to help. </p> <p><strong>Protect Yourself from the Sun.</strong> It&rsquo;s important when planning any outdoor activities this summer to be sure to have appropriate clothing, lots of water to drink, and sunblock and hats available to protect you and your child from the sun. As you travel to each activity, buckle-up and <strong><em>NEVER</em></strong> leave any of your children and/or pets in a car while you <em>&ldquo;run into the store to pick up something you forgot.&rdquo;</em> </p> <p><strong>Put Away the Electronics and Talk.</strong> A new law in Utah outlaws manipulating a cellphone and/or other electronic devices by hand while driving. If you can, put away your cellphone and talk and laugh with your kids while you have them in the car with you. On our travels, my parents would often ask us what we looked forward to at our destination. This helped them introduce rules for safety such as: The buddy system with a sibling or an invited friend (often works well with teenagers), and regular check-in times, so no-one was gone from the main group for too long.</p> <p><strong>Establish Routines and Stick to Them.</strong> Keeping to a routine and setting a summer curfew for kids, even teenagers, can be helpful. Having routines and rules keeps our kids safe. A child who consistently stays up late is going to be miserable after a few nights of too little sleep. Encouraging kids to do their chores, and rewarding them with the opportunity to learn a new skill or hobby can be a great way to strengthen relationships with them. </p> <p><strong>Know Your Kids&rsquo; Friends.</strong> Know who your child&rsquo;s friends are and be sure to have the contact numbers for the parents of those friends. Call the parents and meet them if possible so you know more about who your children are hanging out with. </p> <p><strong>Teach Children How to Deal with Strangers.</strong> Lots of children spend time outdoors during the summer so it&rsquo;s a good idea to have a <strong><em>code-word</em></strong> that each family member knows in case they encounter &ldquo;<strong><em>stranger danger.&rdquo;</em></strong> You may have seen the news report a few weeks ago of a young boy in Salt Lake who, at a scout activity, was able to protect himself when a stranger tried to lure him away from the group. He asked the stranger what the family <strong><em>code-word</em></strong> was, and when he didn&rsquo;t hear it, he ran back to his troop as fast as he could, thus avoiding a potentially dangerous situation. </p> <p><strong>Establish Internet Use Guidelines.</strong> Some parents may not be able to be with their children throughout the summer, due to work and other responsibilities. It&rsquo;s important to teach children, even teens, about not only physical risks, but also the risks of cyber space. Set limits on Internet contacts and know what your child is doing online. As a single mom years ago, I was extremely busy in school and at work. One evening my 14-year-old son informed me of a new friend he&rsquo;d made while playing a particular online game. As he described some of the questions his friend was asking him, my &lsquo;red-flag&rsquo; antennas began to beep! I am not very tech-savvy so I found someone who could help with my concerns. I discovered, to my horror, that the &ldquo;friend&rdquo; was a convicted pedophile involved in child-pornography. Another safety measure: keep your computer in a public place&hellip; everyone in the family will get into less trouble that way. </p> <p>Summer is a wonderful time for creating happy moments and memories with our children. One of the best ways to do this is to develop strong and connected relationships with them. Plan activities together, be spontaneous, ask questions and offer suggestions that will keep them safe, and best of all, have fun! </p>Fri, 20 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0600{8E912947-E88D-44E4-A881-6FC46432463D} Moon on Friday the 13th<p>This sounds pretty ridiculous, right? After all, it&rsquo;s just a date on the calendar. </p> <p>These two events happening on the same day <a href="" target="_blank">may not happen again until 2049</a>, which makes it pretty cool. But do you think it actually makes people crazier? To answer this question we contacted the statisticians at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. Being one of the busiest Emergency Rooms in Utah has allowed them to track data from a very large number of cases, which offers enough information to determine if our findings are &ldquo;statistically relevant.&rdquo; However, given the fact we are chasing a superstition, does that really matter? </p> <p>Before we look at the data, let&rsquo;s quickly explore these two nearly coincidental superstitions. </p> <h2>Friday the 13<sup>th</sup> </h2> <p>There is a <a href="" target="_blank">Hollywood movie</a> about the evil nature of this date; do we need to say more? </p> <p>Most of the modern world uses the Gregorian calendar. We are comfortable with having 12 months, 52 weeks, and between 28 and 31 days each month, all thanks to this calendar. Given this structure, a Friday the 13<sup>th</sup> occurs several times each year. </p> <p><em>[Side note] Friday the 13<sup>th</sup> will happen at least once every year, but never more than 3 times. </em></p> <p>This date has<a href="" target="_blank"> several historical and biblical events</a> that can be used to validate its bad/evil/unlucky nature. Several studies have shown that billions of dollars are lost in business every time the number 13 comes up on the calendar. This is even stranger because it doesn&rsquo;t necessarily only happen on Friday the 13<sup>th</sup>. In fact, the superstition surrounding the number 13 doesn&rsquo;t stop with the date. There is even a word for this: triskaidekaphobia &ndash; the fear of the number 13. </p> <p>Next time you are staying in a hotel, check to see if there is a 13<sup>th</sup> floor. Many hotels leave this number out because there are so many people who refuse to stay in a room associated with the number 13. And what about Apollo 13? Did this mission suffer simply because of the number 13? </p> <h2>Full Moon </h2> <p>A full moon happens at least once every month, sometimes even twice (a <a href="" target="_blank">blue moon</a>). A full moon occurs when the sun, earth, and moon all line up and light from the sun is reflected off an entire hemisphere of the moon. A few scientifically significant things happen when the moon is full, such as a change in ocean and lake tides caused by shifting gravitational forces between the sun and the moon. Could this also cause psychotic behavior in humans? The human body is composed of 50-60 percent water. Can that mean that changes in gravitational pull can cause us to act even crazier than normal? </p> <p><em>[Side Note] A blue moon occurs once every 2 to 3 years. </em></p> <p>Actually, there are no recorded scientific studies that links lunar cycle and human psychosis, even though thousands of studies have been performed to explore this superstition. Most &ldquo;evidence&rdquo; presented on the topic is anecdotal, or includes a very small, statistically irrelevant data sets. If there is no proof, why do we think people act crazier when there is a full moon? </p> <h2>Our Data </h2> <p>We were able to review data from more than 1,000 cases that took place either during a full moon, or on a Friday the 13<sup>th</sup>. In these cases, there is no statistical increase in patients being treated for psychotic episodes in our emergency room. </p> <h2>Why the superstition? </h2> <p>Each time there is a full moon, or the 13<sup>th</sup> day of the month falls on a Friday, why do people think things get crazy? When they happen together, is the psychotic effect multiplied? Or could it be that the superstition is just in our head? </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>What do you think?&nbsp;</p>Fri, 13 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0600