Dr. Steve Info: Friday

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7:00am Segment Info:
Anti-smoking campaigns are really catching on. In 2007, more states banned smoking in public places, but we still have a long way to go. 21 states have passed comprehensive smoke-free air laws, but 18 others have not leaving millions of Americans exposed to potentially lethal secondhand smoke in public places. According to the American lung association tobacco remains the number one preventable cause of death in America. Diseases related to tobacco kill more than 438,000 Americans each year, but there's still too little federal and state funding for smoking-prevention and cessation programs, and many states have not increased their cigarette taxes. Health officials say more needs to be done.

Is the federal government doing its part?

The report card there is not too good. Congress has yet to ratify the tobacco control treaty which president bush signed back in 2004, but has never been sent to the senate. New York city got some very high marks. Smoking rates in the big apple have continued to decline, while across the nation, rates have stayed about the same, and health experts say this proves that an aggressive antismoking campaign can work. You just have to implement the plan.

In other news, your dentist may soon be checking more than just your teeth.

That's right. Us scientists are developing a test that dentists could use to check if patients have breast cancer not in the traditional way. The new test checks saliva for marker proteins that give an early warning of the disease. Currently the test is still experimental and is being developed by the university of Texas. Researchers say the test can distinguish between malignant and benign tumors and may even be able to spot other cancers like cervical cancer as well. In case you’re wondering saliva analysis has been used to monitor patient response to chemotherapy or surgical treatment of breast cancer the disease.

Would this replace other breast cancer screening tests like mammograms?

No, this test would be done along side those tests. Some people believe the test should best be done by general practitioners. They say that while it may be feasible to get screened at the dentist with your saliva. It makes more sense to have that screening done at your regular doctor's office so all of your information is in one place.

8:00am Ask The Doctor Segment Info:
1. My friends are having trouble getting their 2-year-old to sleep in his own bedroom at night. What's the best method to get this done?
Rene from Montclair, NJ

Rene, this is such a tough question not only because every child is different, but parents feel so strongly about this. There is no one accepted method of getting your child to sleep in his own bed. Some say you should make a strict rule and start a bedtime routine, things like that. However, i found with my parental experience that you have to try to figure out "why" your child wants to sleep in your bed. Maybe he or she’s afraid of the dark, afraid of being alone or has separation issues. Once you figure this out, the problem may go away. There are others that say just ignore it. Your child will eventually outgrow it. There have been volumes of books written on this subject.

2. Can the heat of a laptop affect a man's fertility?
Amine from Astoria, Queens.

Amine, believe it or not, there are actually real medical studies that show that sitting with a laptop on your lap for an extended period of time can in fact affect fertility. That's because elevated scrotal temperatures have been linked to male infertility. Many factors can raise scrotal temperature, including hot baths, saunas, and tight jockey shorts. And studies show sitting with a laptop with your knees together can increase the temperature in your nether regions by as much as 5 degrees. No one knows if that will make you infertile, but we do know that sperm concentration can drop by 40% when median scrotal temperature goes up by 1 to 2 degrees.

3. With the weather changing how can I protect myself from getting sick?
Julio from The Bronx

Julio, the best way to prevent a cold anytime of year is with frequent hand washing or with alcohol sanitizers. To wash properly, use warm water and plenty of soap. Scrub all surfaces of your hand for at least 20 seconds. Rinse thoroughly, and dry them. Here's the important part, shut off the water using the towel you just dried your hands with. Another tip is to try not to touch your mouth, eyes, nose or face. That's because you can actually inoculate yourself with a cold if your hands are contaminated.

4. What effects do jogging have on my knees?
James from Manhattan

Running on hard pavement can definitely put a strain on the joints. That's why the right footwear is so important. The most common pain associated with jogging is known as runner's knee, it's a catch phrase for jogging-related knee pain. If you have this problem, you may need to see a podiatrist to get orthotics to properly support your feet. You should also try to run on softer ground if possible.