How In-the-Know on Health are Ballwin & Ellisville?

According to a recent Reader's Digest feature, "hanger" is not just something you hang your clothes on. Instead, it is mood swings associated with a drop in blood sugar from not eating regularly. 

Other current health terms originate from social media or technology among other sources. 

An "e-book moment" is thought to be a result of the theory people remember less of information read from reader devices than print books, possibly because the brain connects information with where a word is found on a page 

"Tight pants syndrome" are symptoms resulting from both men and women wearing too-snug bottom pieces, causing everything from yeast infections in woman to indigestion in men. 

A little more alarming could be "surgeon enthusiasm", termed from study that found cities differed in as much as 25 times their recommendations for surgeries like spinal fusions that could be approached conservatively. 

At McDonald's in Ellisville, I overheard Mark Barott, 57, mention his spinal disc problem and asked if he had heard about surgeon enthusiasm. He hadn't, he said, and said he tries to do his own research rather than rely on one opinion. 

"If surgery to something as important as my spine was recommended, I would have to get three or four opinions," said Barott, "but I could see if someone is in pain or scared they would trust one person."

"Decision fatigue" was coined after studies have linked mental fatigue with poor decision-making. A friend recently mentioned that she overheard her son telling a friend that he asked his mother for something he wanted when she was dealing with a situation with his sister- showing most of us are very familiar with such a feeling. 

Not only are there first- and second-hand smoke, but "third-hand smoke" which results from lingering smoke particles mixing with nitrous oxide, commonly found indoors, to create a carcinogen. 

"Self-compassion" is a psychotherapy term for having as much understanding for your downfalls as you do for those you care about, thought to increased progress with weight loss plans and other challenges.

Diane Berg, 42, of Ballwin, said that it sounded a bit "new-age" to her. 

"Yes, you need to have self-compassion, but you need to have discipline too," said Berg. "I have a few extra pounds and sometimes my self-compassion is what keeps me from getting rid of them."

Other new terms are fitness oriented.

"Broga" is a combination of the terms "yoga" and the colloquial "bro" where men do partner yoga combining strength moves. Want to bring your business partner and not your best friend? "Sweat working" includes taking business associates to a workout while working on deals or issues in the office.

Sara Fleenor, 27, is a fit woman who grew up in Ballwin and we struck up a conversation on when I was heading out for a recent run. She is looking to expand her photography business into a full-time job and often interviews in quirky places due to the creative nature of her work. 

"Sure, I'd consider working out with someone I was looking to collaborate with, why not," said Fleenor. "But of course, it would depend on the nature of the deal we were working out and if I felt that the other party liked athletic activity."

In all, most people found the terms to be catchy, but common sense. Now go get some lunch before "hanger" sets in and you snap at your co-worker.