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IN WITH THE VACCINE, OUT WITH THE Disease Since the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV—a sexually transmitted virus) was approved for young females in 2006, rates of HPV have fallen by 64 percent among teenage girls. For women in their early 20s, a group with lower vaccination rates, the most dangerous strain of HPV has been reduced by more than a third. The vaccine was approved for use in males in 2009, but adoption rates have been slower for boys, and statistics are not yet available. Still, researchers are already seeing a decline in HPV complications, including genital warts. They expect to see fewer cases of HPV-related cancers—including gynecological, anal, penile, and throat cancers—as vaccination rates increase and vaccinated children mature into adults. "All boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 12 years old should be vaccinated," says Leslie Hayes, M.D., chief of adolescent medicine at New York Methodist Hospital. "When children are vaccinated before they are sexually active, they are protected before being exposed to the virus, which reduces their risk of developing HPV-related cancers later in life. Being vaccinated at a young age also produces a higher immune response to the vaccine antigens, providing the best chance for immunity to HPV." The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that children, ages between 11 and 14 years, receive two doses of the vaccine while those between 15 and 26 years receive three doses. FLOSSING IS FUNDAMENTAL Your dentist and dental hygienist have been telling you for years that daily flossing is the key to good dental health. However, in August 2016, the dietary guidelines for Americans issued by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services removed all mention of flossing. The reason is that government guidelines are centered on evidence-based, research-backed recommendations, and very little research has been done on the benefits of flossing. So, is flossing really necessary? "Yes it is," answers Aaron Brandwein, D.D.S., program director of dental medicine at NYM. "Based on what I have seen in my practice, there's no question that flossing is beneficial. I recommend that everyone floss once a day. While short- term results may not be apparent, I have observed that people who do not floss regularly have a greater risk of developing more cavities, progressive gum disease and tooth loss in the long run." Your heart may thank you for good flossing habits, as well, because gum disease is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. DISTRACTED DRIVING = DANGEROUS DRIVING Multitasking while behind the steering wheel leads to distracted driving, which is a leading cause of auto accidents. In fact, distracted driving is estimated to be a factor in more than 400,000 car wrecks in the U.S. annually. While cell phone use is the most notorious distraction behind the wheel, anything that takes attention away from the road can be fatal. Eating, changing the radio station, CD or MP3 player, applying make-up, talking with friends in the car, and using a navigation system are just some of the most common sources of distraction. "Driver distraction puts everyone in the car and in the vicinity of the car at risk," explains Lawrence Melniker, M.D., M.S., vice chair for quality management at NYM's Department of Emergency Medicine. "It's not the act of holding a phone or driving with one hand that puts drivers at risk—it's the mental distraction. The best practice is to keep the phone out of reach while driving and just focus on the road." WIN T ER 2 017/ / W W W.N Y M.O RG 6 I N S I G H T S