Too many unnecessary tonsillectomies

At the 1998 Grammys, Luciano Pavarotti backed out of performing at the last minute because of a sore throat — and Aretha Franklin stepped in to give a moving gospel-operatic rendition of the aria “Nessun Dorma”!

Rarely do sore throats lead to such astounding moments of artistry. In fact, according to a new study from Birmingham University, for seven out of eight kids in the U.K. who have their tonsils removed, the surgery isn’t even necessary!

In the U.S. more than a half a million tonsillectomies are performed annually. Three decades ago, 90 per cent were because of chronic sore throats. Now only 20 per cent are; 80 per cent are because infected tonsils are causing a child to have obstructive sleep apnea.

For repeated sore throats to be chronic enough to merit surgery, U.S. guidelines say a child should have had at least seven episodes in the previous year; five each year for two years; or three each year for three years. For obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis, anecdotal evidence from parents and a doctor’s clinical observations are most often relied on to determine if a tonsillectomy is needed.

You don’t want your child to undergo this surgery unnecessarily. One study found that between three and 13 per cent of kids end up back in the hospital or emergency room post-tonsillectomy.

So, children who contend with chronic sore throats or have sleep problems because their breathing is affected by swollen tonsils should be evaluated by an experienced ear, nose and throat specialist who can help determine if surgery is really needed.

GETTING IN YOUR WHEY

This fall, when the L.A. Dodgers won the National League pennant by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers, it was proof that not all pro teams are created equal. The same is true for pro-teins in your diet.

A new study from Canada’s McMaster University says that whey protein supplements can help prevent agerelated loss of muscle mass, especially for older folks who get sidelined because of an operation, illness or injury.

Whey, the liquid part of milk that separates during cheese production, is packed with all of the nine essential proteinbuilding amino acids. And it does more than build muscle. It also provides a quick hit of long-lasting energy, helps suppress your appetite and controls blood sugar. The study shows that it does its magic while you’re inactive (on bed rest, say), but we say it’s most effective when coupled with strengthbuilding exercise two to three days a week. And it should supplement, not be a substitute for, high-quality, food-based proteins such as legumes, whole grains and Dr. Mike’s favourite, salmon burgers.

There are three powderized kinds: whey protein concentrate, which is 30 to 90 per cent protein with low levels of carbohydrates and fat; whey protein isolate, which is 90 per cent protein with 0.5 per cent fat or lactose; and whey protein hydrolysate is “predigested” and is absorbed the fastest. They make great shakes — go to for recipes; it’s Lisa Oz’s favourite protein booster.

To discover if you need a whey product, talk to your doc and/or a nutritionist. Either can help you determine how much you should be taking, given your goals.

AVOCADO TRAGEDY ALERT

Former “Bachelorette” star and bestselling author Andi Dorfman is used to the spotlight. But recently she made headlines for a very different reason. Dorfman fell victim to the dreaded “avocado hand.” She was preparing guacamole and attempted to show off her chops in the kitchen by holding half an avocado in one hand and remove the pit by whacking it with a knife. She missed the pit and sliced a tendon and hit a nerve between her fingers on her palm. At the emergency room, a hand surgeon immediately went to work on the injury, but the repair was so complex that six months later she’s still on the mend.

As avocados’ popularity has spread, this sort of injury has become all too common. One plastic surgeon in England says “avocado hand” is epidemic and suggests the fruit come with a consumer warning label.

But don’t let this scare you away from these flavourful, nutrient-packed fruits. They’re loaded with fibre, protein and vitamins A, C and E. They also contain healthy monounsaturated fats that can help lower your lousy LDL cholesterol levels. According to one study, if substituted for butter, margarine or cheese, they can increase your good HDL cholesterol by up to 16 per cent.

So expand your avocado repertoire: Besides guacamole, try them in smoothies, salads and toasted sandwiches. You can even grill them. To enjoy them safely, the California Avocado Commission recommends removing the pit with your fingers, and placing the fruit on a cutting board, not in your hand, while slicing.

FEELING UNFOCUSED? YOU MAY BE PHONE-FRIED

In “The Big Bang Theory,” Mrs. Wolowitz (Carol Ann Susi) was her own wide-area network. Take this exchange, shouted from a corner of the house we never see: “Howard, it’s the phone.”

Howard: “I know it’s the phone, Ma. I can hear the phone.”

Mrs. Wolowitz: “Well who’s calling at this ungodly hour?” Howard: “I don’t know.” Mrs. Wolowitz: “Well ask them why they’re calling at this ungodly hour.”

Howard: “How can I ask them when I’m talking to you?”

That kind of phone notification can melt the brain circuits of even the most devoted child. But it turns out phone notifications of all kinds — buzzes, vibrations, melodious jingles and rings — are brain-erasing as well. A study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance found that if you’re trying to focus on a task and your phone notifies you of an incoming message, it doesn’t matter if you respond or ignore it. Either way, it breaks your concentration and lowers your ability to think clearly.

Dr. Mike’s Cleveland Clinic advises you take notice of this study and take steps to protect your brain power:

• When concentrating, turn off all notifications. Better yet, turn off your phone.

• Learn to leave your phone at home once in a while. It’s not a puppy that needs to be walked!

And build focus and concentration by practising mindful meditation 10 minutes daily. Download the Clinic’s free Stress-Free Now iOS app at the AppStore or Insight Timer, free for Android at the Google Play store.

DADS DO IT — KIDS BENEFIT

When Matt Damon prepared to star as Gardner Lodge in the George Clooney-directed movie “Suburbicon” he destroyed his Jason Borne washboard abs and showed up on set weighting 200 pounds. He said he wanted a “Dad Bod.”

Unfortunately, the Dad Bod, defined by the Urban Dictionary as more mudslide than mountain, is ever-more common. Today, over 27 per cent of men 20 to 39 are obese, and many more are overweight. Twenty-six per cent of guys 18 to 44 get no physical activity at all, while most fall short of what’s recommend. Not good for guys and not good for their future children.

Research published in the journal Diabetes found that the athleticism of Dad may have an impact on the lifelong health and metabolism of his offspring. For the study, the researchers put future dad mice on either a high-fat or low-fat diet and let some of the mice from the two diet groups get regular exercise. After three weeks, they mated the future dad mice with normal mom mice. The researchers then fed the dad mice’s offspring normal diets and monitored their health for a year. The results: Dad mice that exercised before becoming fathers (regardless of their diet) had changes in their sperm’s DNA that boosted their offsprings’ metabolic health, so the kids had more efficient glucose metabolism and a lower body weight and BMI.

Mice are a pretty good model for human biology! So don’t let your shape mudslide, or your future kids may end up with a roster of health woes they were born with!