Dr Beecher’s May 2014 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it.” ~ Lyndon B. Johnson
Are Your Teens Part of the E-Cig Craze?
NEW STUDY: E-Cigarettes May Lead to Conventional Smoking and Nicotine Addiction in Teenagers
Often touted as a way to quit smoking…
the opposite may also be true…
Also this month:
- Multiple studies show breastfed babies have higher IQs and perform better in school: There is a BIG reason why you should know.
- Want to quit smoking?: Reading this might help you quit within a month.
- What you need to know the next time you drop your food on the floor: Is the five second rule backed by science… or just another urban myth? The answer might shock you.
Houston – If you do not want your children to start smoking, the information you are about to read will be extremely important to you. A new study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that e-cigarettes may actually increase the chance that teenagers start smoking conventional cigarettes, possibly leading to nicotine addiction.
This study completely contradicts the claims (and marketing promotion) that e-cigarettes are a good way to quit.
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that adolescents who used e-cigarette devices were more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit smoking. The study of nearly 40,000 youth around the country also found that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, from 3.1 percent to 6.5 percent.
Dr. Lauren Dutra of the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education states, “E-cigarettes are likely to be gateway devices for nicotine addiction among youth, opening up a whole new market for tobacco.”
The study found that not only were e-cigarettes associated with a greater probability of progressing from just trying cigarettes to becoming a regular smoker, teens who smoked both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes smoked more conventional cigarettes per day than non-e-cigarette users.
A previous study of 75,000 South Korean adolescents published a year ago found similar results.
This comes on a surge in popularity of e-cigarettes, most likely due to heavy marketing that makes them look cool. This is reminiscent of old tobacco cigarette ads from decades ago that used celebrities, spokespeople, and even doctors to market their addictive and deadly product.
“It looks to me like the wild west marketing of e-cigarettes is not only encouraging youth to smoke them, but also it is promoting regular cigarette smoking among youth,” says senior author Dr. Stanton A. Glantz, UCSF Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education.
What Are E-Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes or ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems), are devices whose function is to vaporize and deliver a chemical mixture typically composed of nicotine, propylene glycol, and other chemicals (although some products claim to contain no nicotine) to the user’s lungs. A number of ENDS are offered in flavors that can be particularly attractive to adolescents. Electronic cigarettes are the most common type of ENDS.
The manufacturers report that the cartridges typically contain between 6 and 24 mg of nicotine, but they can sometimes contain more than 100 mg.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “The dose of delivered nicotine is also unknown. It is suspected that the delivered dose varies notably by product, which contains nicotine in various quantities and concentrations.
“Until such time when ENDS are deemed safe and effective and of acceptable quality by a competent national regulatory body, consumers should be strongly advised not to use any of these products, including electronic cigarettes.”
Here’s Something Important if You
Want to Help Someone Quit Smoking!
A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that smokers who viewed ads featuring reasons to quit were substantially more likely to quit smoking after the four-week study period. However, ads with messages about how to quit smoking had no effect on an individual’s smoking behavior.
According to an author of the study, “Why-to-quit smoking messages are more powerful because those ads typically show graphic portrayals of the health consequences of smoking or feature personal testimonies to evoke emotion. Whereas, how-to-quit messages are designed to increase an individual’s belief that he or she can quit.”
Advertising Works
After four weeks, smokers who viewed ads with messages featuring reasons to quit smoking were 6 to 10 times more likely to have quit smoking compared with smokers who viewed no ads. Smokers who watched the how-to-quit smoking ads did not change their habits at all.
The success of the “why” ads is believed to be because those commercials were much more emotional in nature. They showed visible and graphic evidence of the devastating effects smoking can have on a person.
Who Else Wants to Look
20 Years Older than They Are?
Some expert marketers have said for a long time the way to get people to stop smoking is to show the cosmetic changes that result from the activity. For example, show beautiful people’s faces becoming ugly from smoking.
They say it’s because most people are much more prone to act for cosmetic reasons than they are for health reasons. Sadly, these top marketers are probably correct.
There is plenty of proof that smoking tobacco prematurely ages a smoker’s face. It causes deep lines and wrinkles that can make a person look DECADES older than they really are. The difference in aging and loss of youth and beauty is drastic.
Ironically, most smokers start smoking to “be cool” and fit in. However, smoking actually steals a person’s good looks like a thief in the night.
It seems quite obvious that good advertising cannot only influence people to start smoking… it can influence them to stop. Boring lectures about the health consequences will not change behavior, especially in teenagers. Good, emotional marketing will.
But, it’s an uphill battle. People will do almost anything to be “cool” and some marketers will do anything to sell a product.
Let’s hope the e-cigarette craze does not hook a new generation on conventional cigarettes.
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
“Success is 99% Failure.”
This was one of his mottos. Find out who said this and how poor performance
in school turned him into one of the biggest success stories in the world.
The year was 1906. The day was November 17th. The place was Hamamatsu, Japan. On that day, a baby was born that would have a major impact on the vast majority of people in the United States, Japan, and countless countries around the world.
That was the day Soichiro Honda was born. Yes, the baby born on that day would start and build the Honda Motor Company into the giant it is today.
But, it was not always smooth sailing. In fact, little Soichiro Honda got off to a pretty rough start, especially in school…
Soichiro’s father was a blacksmith and ran a bicycle repair business on the side. He would buy broken down bicycles for a cheap price, fix them, and sell them for a small profit. It is reported that Soichiro was helping his father, “straight from the cradle.” Though Soichiro was intelligent, he wanted nothing to do with formal education… and his grades reflected it.
At his school, all students were given grade reports that their parents were to stamp with their family seal. Because he did not want his parents to see his grades, Soichiro re-created their family seal stamp out of an old tire. He stamped his report card and brought it back to school.
It worked, but Soichiro did not stop there. He started helping out his friends and making family seal stamps for them as well. That is, until Soichiro make a critical error. His family name was symmetrical so it did not need to be made in reverse on the stamp. But, his friends’ family names were not symmetrical. Soichiro did not recognize and his friend’s new seals stamped backwards! The teacher noticed the mistake and Soichiro found himself in very hot water.
Soichiro’s father was very upset. He was so upset that he made Soichiro kneel in the corner for an entire day. But this story has a little twist…
You see, Soichiro’s father was not upset because Soichiro forged the family stamps. He was upset because he did not pick up on the mirror imaging and made the stamps incorrectly. That’s why he punished him.
This lesson and others like it stuck with Soichiro, and they served him well when he met with failure after failure a little later in life when he had a dream to create a piston ring engine. He devoted his entire life to accomplishing this goal. He invested all of his money (he even brought his wife’s jewelry to the pawn shop) and sunk it into his dream.
He went back to school only to drop out because he refused to take the examinations. He founded his own company (Tokai Seiki) and was doing business with Toyota until World War II put a stop to it. Once again, he did not quit. In 1946, he started “Honda Technology Research Institute” and started making mopeds. Within two years, Honda Technology Research Institute became Honda Motor Company.
In the 1960s, Soichiro fulfilled a dream and started producing cars. I think we all know where this story ends. Clearly, the take home message is that success is rarely, if ever, a straight line. There are always twists and turns. Disappointment and adaptation. More failure than success. But thank goodness you can fail 99% of the time and still be successful in the end. You just have to be willing to fail.
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
13 Facts You May Not Know About Your Own Body!
- Nerve impulses in the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour (105.6 km/hr).
- The brain operates on the same amount of power as a 10-watt light bulb.
- Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your blood stream.
- The brain is more active at night than during the day.
- Eighty percent of the brain is water.
- The largest internal organ is the small intestine.
- The heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet (~9 meters).
- The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades.
- The surface area of a human lung is equal to a tennis court.
- The hardest bone in the body is the jawbone.
- The feet account for one quarter of all the human body’s bones.
- The tooth is the only part of the body that can’t repair itself.
- Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on the body.
Tip Of The Month
Multiple Studies Show Breastfed Babies Have Higher IQs –
But There is More to the Story…
There is quite a bit of proof that breastfeeding is superior to not breastfeeding. One benefit that has been shown in several studies is that breastfed babies have higher IQs and perform better in school. Well, now a new study sheds even more light on this subject. According to Sciencedaily: “A new study by sociologists at Brigham Young University pinpoints two parenting skills as the real source of this cognitive boost: Responding to children’s emotional cues and reading to children starting nine months of age. Breastfeeding mothers tend to do both of those things, said lead study author Ben Gibbs.” This study was published in the March 2014 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics. In other words, the authors do not believe the breast milk itself is the reason for the higher IQ and “smarter babies.” Instead, they believe it is the parenting that makes the difference.
Child development expert from Wayne State University, Dr. Sandra Jacobson, praised the study and said, “Children in the study who were breastfed for six months or longer performed the best on reading assessments because they also experienced the most optimal parenting practices.” It seems that parents who make the decision to breastfeed are also willing to make the decision to do other things that maximize the development of their children.
Next Time You Drop Food on the Floor…
When you drop food on the floor, do you pick it up and eat it? If you do, you are not alone. According to a new study, 87% of people questioned said they would or already have eaten food that was dropped on the ground. Fifty-five percent of these people were women. Here is the most surprising statistic: 81% of the women who would eat the food follow what is known as “the five-second rule.” This “rule” states that food dropped on the floor is okay to eat as long as it is picked up within five seconds. Crazy? Perhaps, but there is also some science behind the idea. A new study recorded the transfer of certain common bacteria from the different types of floors to food over time (3-30 seconds). Both the type of floor and time had an impact on the transfer of bacteria. Bacteria was least likely to transfer to carpeted surfaces and most likely to transfer to tile or laminate surfaces. The bacteria was most likely to transfer to the dropped foods if they remained on the ground for more than five seconds. It also depends on how contaminated (clean or dirty) the floor surface is so don’t laugh the next time someone drops food on a seemingly clean floor, picks it up, and eats it claiming they’re abiding by the five-second rule!
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know at 281-286-1300.
Dr Beecher’s April 28 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, April 28th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Facebook Photos Cause Anxiety and Eating Disorders. A new report reveals that college women who spend more time on Facebook than their peers exhibit a higher frequency of appearance-focused behaviors and report more eating pathologies. The study’s authors explain, “Facebook merges powerful peer influences with broader societal messages that focus on the importance of women’s appearance into a single platform that women carry with them throughout the day. As researchers and clinicians attempt to understand and address risk factors for eating disorders, greater attention is needed to the emerging role of social media in young people’s lives.” International Journal of Eating Disorders, March 2014
Health Alert: FDA Clears First Device to Prevent Migraines. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted STX-MED, a Belgian company, permission to begin marketing a headband-like, battery-powered device called Cefaly that can be worn to prevent migraines. The device is positioned in the center of the forehead and applies an electric current to the skin to stimulate branches of the trigeminal nerve, which has been associated with migraine headaches. Its developers believe it is in an important step in managing migraines. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, March 2014
Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Children’s Sleep. A new study suggests that higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA in children are associated with better sleep, less bedtime resistance, less anxiety about sleep, and less waking during the night. According to the authors of the study, omega-3 blood levels in seven to nine-year-olds are alarmingly low which may lead to poor sleep and problems with both behavior and learning. Journal of Sleep Research, March 2014
Exercise: Just Do It. Regular physical activity/exercise is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. It can help control your weight, lower your risk for heart disease, lower your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, lower your risk for some cancers, strengthen your bones and muscles, improve your mental health and mood, improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, and increase your chance of living longer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2011
Chiropractic: Research Supports Chiropractic Care. Commentary by Dr. Scott Halderman of the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine in response to an evidence report on the effectiveness of manual therapies, including spinal manipulation: “There was a time, not long ago, when there was little or no evidence to support the practice of manipulation that is the mainstay of chiropractic practice… There has, however, been a rapid growth in the number of clinical trials that have studied the effectiveness of manipulation, mobilization, and massage over the past 20 years and… there is now little dispute amongst knowledgeable scientists that manipulation is of value in the management of back pain, neck pain, and headaches that make up 90% or more of all patients who seek chiropractic care.” Chiropractic & Osteopathy, February 2010
Wellness/Prevention: TVs in Bedrooms Linked to Childhood Obesity. A recent report reveals that children who have a televisions in their bedroom are much more likely to be overweight. Researchers hypothesize that bedroom televisions may disrupt a child’s sleep pattern and past studies have shown that reduced sleep or poor sleep quality may be a cause of weight gain in children. The authors add that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against children having televisions in their bedroom. JAMA Pediatrics, March 2014
Quote: “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” ~ Albert Einstein
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s April 21 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, April 21st, 2014
Mental Attitude: Angry Outbursts Increase Heart Attack Risk! Researchers at Harvard University report that heart attack risk increases nearly five times and stroke risk increases nearly three times in the two hours following at outburst of anger. Author Dr. Elizabeth Mostofsky adds, “Although the risk of experiencing an acute cardiovascular event with any single outburst of anger is relatively low, the risk can accumulate for people with frequent episodes of anger. This is particularly important for people who have higher risk due to other underlying risk factors or those who have already had a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes.” European Heart Journal, March 2014
Health Alert: Diarrheal Infection in Children Linked to Antibiotics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of severe and potentially fatal pediatric diarrhea cases caused by Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile) are linked to recent antibiotic treatments. Based on surveys of parents, 73% of children who suffered from a C. difficile infection were recently prescribed antibiotics to treat ear, sinus, or upper respiratory infections. Past studies have shown that at least half of upper respiratory infections do not require antibiotic treatment. The overuse of antibiotics places children at risk, as the antibiotics kill both bad and natural flora in the digestive system and create an imbalance that may allow a C. difficile infection to grow out of control and release toxins that inflame the gut. Dr. Tom Frieden, the Director of the CDC, writes, “When antibiotics are prescribed incorrectly, our children are needlessly put at risk for health problems including C. difficile infection and dangerous antibiotic resistant infections.” Pediatrics, March 2014
Diet: Eating Too Much Protein in Middle-Age Could be Harmful. A new study suggests that a high protein diet (>1.2g protein per kg of body weight consumed per day) increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, and death among middle-aged adults. Lead author Dr. Valter Longo writes, “We studied simple organisms, mice, and humans, and provide convincing evidence that a high-protein diet – particularly if the proteins are derived from animals – is nearly as bad as smoking for your health.” Cell Metabolism, March 2014
Exercise: Exercising During Pregnancy Reduces Weight Gain & Associated Illnesses. Research involving 963 pregnant women shows that moderately intense supervised exercise starting at the prenatal consultation helps women avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy while also reducing associated illnesses such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. The researchers state, “We wish to emphasize the importance of maintaining the health of pregnant women, as well as their children, by reaching an optimum weight; hence the importance of [physical exercise].” Mayo Clinic Proceeding, December 2013
Chiropractic: More Cost-Effective. Considering effectiveness and cost together, chiropractic care for low back and neck pain is highly cost-effective and represents a good value in comparison to other treatments, including medical care.
Mercer Health and Benefits, October 2009
Wellness/Prevention: Enjoy a Nap. Taking an afternoon nap has been associated with benefits including improved alertness and performance, fewer accidents and mistakes, and a psychological boost to help one feel both relaxed and rejuvenated. National Sleep Foundation, 2013
Quote: “When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you.”
~ Susan Sarandon
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s April 14 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, April 14th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Alzheimer’s Deaths Larger than Reported. A new report suggests that Alzheimer’s disease contributes to an estimated 500,000 deaths per year in the United States. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 83,494 Alzheimer’s deaths were reported in 2010, pointing to incorrect identification of the underlying cause of death. Study author Dr. Bryan D. James writes, “Death certificates often list the immediate cause of death, such as pneumonia, rather than listing dementia as an underlying cause… Determining the true effects of dementia in this country is important for raising public awareness and identifying research priorities regarding this epidemic.” Neurology, March 2014
Health Alert: For Younger Prostate Cancer Patients, is Surgery a Better Option than Waiting? Among younger men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer, mortality rates are over 40% lower for those who are treated surgically compared with those who follow watchful waiting (relying on changes in symptoms to determine if/when further treatment is needed). The authors of this study add that patients must assess the risks with the operation, such as incontinence and impotence, with what they may gain from having the surgery based on age, other diseases, and desires. New England Journal of Medicine, March 2014
Diet: Is Saturated Fat Really that Bad? For years, healthcare providers have recommended following a diet low in saturated fat to reduce the risk of heart disease. New research claims that such a diet does not curb heart disease or prolong life. According to Dr. James DiNicolantonio, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that reducing saturated fat consumption can decrease the risk of heart disease. He explains, “The increase in the prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the [United States] occurred with an increase in the consumption of refined carbohydrates, not saturated fat. There is no conclusive proof that a low-fat diet has any positive effects on health.” Open Heart, March 2014
Exercise: Exercise Improves Brain Power. Recent research shows that aerobic exercise improves activity in certain areas of the brain as well as the connectivity of those structures. Researchers found that the more fit a person is, the stronger the connectivity in the brain and the better they are at multitasking, planning, prioritizing, and strategizing. American Association for the Advancement of Science, March 2013
Chiropractic: High Prevalence of Back Pain in High School Sports. Low back pain is a surprisingly common complaint among young athletes. A study from Finland analyzed 464 teenage athletes from a variety of sports and found that 54.9% experienced back pain during the previous year but only about a quarter sought treatment. Journal of Sports Medicine, April 2014
Wellness/Prevention: New Smartphone Case Measures Vital Signs. Azoi, an American technology company, has just announced a smartphone case that measures blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen levels. This new health tracker is called Wello and works by using several sensors located in the case that attaches to your smartphone. Wello can also connect to other health and fitness devices, including pedometers and sleep monitors. Hamish Patel, CEO and founder of Azoi, says that Wello can help individuals monitor their vital signs, possibly allowing earlier detection of heart disease and other health problems. American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine Technology Hub, March 2014
Quote: “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s April 7 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, April 7th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Mentally Ill More Often Victims of Violence. According to a new report, mentally ill adults 50% more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators of violence. Study author Dr. Sarah Desmarais writes, “We hear about the link between violence and mental illness in the news, and we wanted to look not only at the notion that the mentally ill are a danger to others, but the possibility that they are also in danger.” American Journal of Public Health, February 2014
Health Alert: People with Sleep Apnea at Higher Risk for Pneumonia. Researchers followed 34,000 patients (7,000 with sleep apnea and 27,000 without sleep apnea) for eleven years and compared the occurrence of pneumonia in each group. They discovered individuals with sleep apnea have a 20% greater risk for pneumonia than those without sleep apnea. Canadian Medical Association Journal, March 2014
Diet: Students Eating More Fruits & Vegetables. New research suggests that the updated 2012 guidelines for school lunches have resulted in increased fruit and vegetable consumption by lower-income students. Researchers report that in the school year following the adoption of the 2012 guidelines, fruit consumption increased 23% while vegetable intake increased 16%. Lead researcher Dr. Juliana Cohen adds, “There is a push from some organizations and lawmakers to weaken the new standards. We hope the findings, which show that students are consuming more fruits and vegetables, will discourage those efforts.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, March 2014
Exercise: Yoga Good for Breast Cancer Patients. Breast cancer patients undergoing radiation may benefit from yoga. Investigators found a sharp decline in cortisol levels among breast cancer patients who practiced yoga. Cortisol is a stress hormone and increased cortisol levels are associated with worse breast cancer outcomes. The study suggests that practicing yoga helps to regulate cortisol levels. Lead author Dr. Lorenzo Cohen explains, “Combining mind and body practices that are part of yoga clearly have tremendous potential to help patients manage the psychosocial and physical difficulties associated with treatment and life after cancer, beyond the benefits of simple stretching.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, March 2014
Chiropractic: Improved Motion. Compared with both supervised exercise and a home exercise self-care program, spinal manipulation performed by a Chiropractor resulted in the greatest improvements in spinal motion among back pain sufferers. The Spine Journal, March 2014
Wellness/Prevention: High Vitamin D Levels May Improve Breast Cancer Survival. A new study suggests that breast cancer patients who have higher blood levels of vitamin D are twice as likely to survive the disease compared to patients with lower blood levels of vitamin D. Researchers found that breast cancer patients in the United States have an average blood level of vitamin D of 17 ng/ml. Based on their findings, patients with breast cancer may benefit from having vitamin D blood concentrations measured and adjusted to within a normal range of 30-80 ng/ml. Study co-author Dr. Heather Hofflich adds, “The study has implications for including vitamin D as an adjuvant to conventional breast cancer therapy.” Anticancer Research, March 2014
Quote: “Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don’t collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don’t really mean anything.” ~ Norman Lear
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s April 2014 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“At 18 our convictions are hills from which we look; At 45 they are caves in which we hide.”
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
Amazing Technology Lets Doctors See Cancer Cells With High-Tech Glasses!
Why This Breakthrough May Improve Cancer Treatments and Save Lives…
Also this month:
- World’s oldest father has son at age 96: Guess what he eats!
- Does eating too much sugar DOUBLE risk of heart disease? New Research might make you think twice about consuming processed food and drinks loaded with sweeteners.
- Eating this might help you lose weight and live longer: Many people think this food makes you gain weight… but research shows the opposite is true.
- Another Janitor becomes HUGE Success! He dropped out of college in 1979 and became a janitor to help his mother support his four siblings. The amazing story of how he went from janitor… to teacher… to principal!
Houston – In just a moment, you will read about a fascinating pair of glasses that allows surgeons to actually see cancer cells while they’re in the operating room. It’s pretty awesome and has the potential to dramatically improve the outcome of many cancer surgeries.
But first, here is something fascinating…
It has been reported that Ramjeet Raghav is the world’s oldest new father. Mr. Raghav lives in India, he’s 96 years old, and he just welcomed his second son into the world!
Mr. Raghav fathered his first son back in 2010 and was recognized as the world’s oldest new father at that time too.
Just imagine not only being alive but having enough energy to be that active at age 96!
What is his secret? No one knows for sure, perhaps not even Mr. Raghav, but it’s probably a mixture of great genes and lifestyle. Mr. Raghav is a former wrestler and lives on a diet of milk, butter, and almonds. Perhaps the almonds he eats are magical. J
On a more serious note, almonds and other “tree nuts” appear to be very healthy foods. Many people think nuts are fattening and not healthy because of their fat content, but this is not true. There is “good fat” and there is “bad fat.” Tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts/hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts, and are high in “good” healthy fats.
In fact, a large-scale 30-year-long study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who regularly ate a small handful of nuts at least seven times per week were 20 percent less likely to die for any reason during the length of the study compared with those who largely avoided nuts in their diet.
Here is a quote from the study as reported in the Washington Post: “Even those who ate nuts less than once a week had a 7 percent reduction in risk. Consuming nuts at least five times a week corresponded to a 29 percent drop in mortality risk for heart disease, a 24 percent decline for respiratory disease, and an 11 percent drop for cancer.”
One thing should be noted: People in this study who ate more nuts also ate more fruits and vegetables and were leaner.
This is important for a couple of reasons. First, it takes more than just doing ONE THING, like eating nuts, to be healthy. There is no silver bullet. Good health (and the vibrant energy and awesome feelings that come with it) is the end-result of doing a lot of little things correctly for years and years.
Secondly, it is no shock that the people who ate more nuts also ate other healthy foods. These were probably not just “nut lovers.” They were likely people who were into eating healthy and nuts were one part of what they considered to be a healthy diet.
While we are on the subject of eating correctly for optimal health, yet another study has shown the negative effects of eating too much “bad” sugar. “Bad” sugar is sugar used to sweeten processed foods.
According to Bloomberg News: “High sugar consumption may double the chance of dying from heart disease, according to a study that adds to evidence that high levels of the sweetener in processed foods and drink is bad for a person’s health.
“People whose sugar intake is about a quarter or more of their total daily calories had twice the risk of dying from heart disease than those whose intake was 7 percent, according to the research today in JAMA Internal Medicine. For those whose intake of added sugar was about 19 percent, their risk of dying from heart disease was about 38 percent higher.”
About 37 percent of added sugar in American diets comes from sugar-sweetened beverages, while the rest comes from grain-based desserts, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, and candy. Sugar from fruits and vegetables is not considered added sugar.
Here is something worth writing down: Processed food is generally not good for you. Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and is believed to cause an estimated 600,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Making an effort for you and your family to stay away from processed foods may literally save your life and the lives of your family members.
A Common Food that Can Zap You
of Energy and Make You Gain Weight…
One food that many people mistakenly think is healthy is the bagel. Many bagels are processed white bread and they often contain about 40-50 grams of refined carbohydrates that can spike blood sugar levels, setting off a chain of events that result in the release of hormones like tryptophan into your brain to make you feel tired. Not only that, if you don’t burn off those extra calories, your body may convert them into fat!
Does Yogurt Lower Your Risk of Diabetes?
It looks like it just might. New research published in the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes shows that higher consumption of yogurt, compared with no consumption, can reduce the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes by 28%. Scientists found that higher consumption of low-fat fermented dairy products, which include all yogurt varieties and some low-fat cheeses, also reduced the relative risk of diabetes by 24% overall.
Okay, now for some amazing medical technology that just might…
Blow You Away!
Cancer cells appear to glow blue when viewed through new high-tech glasses designed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine. This may help surgeons visualize cancer cells while performing surgery to remove them. The first surgery performed while wearing these glasses was conducted on February 10, 2014 at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
This is important because cancer cells are very difficult to see, even under the greatest magnification. These glasses have the potential to almost ensure that no cancer cells are left behind during surgery.
Surgeon, Julie Margenthaler, MD, is very optimistic, “Imagine what it would mean if these glasses eliminated the need for follow-up surgery and the associated pain, inconvenience, and anxiety.”
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us at 281-286-1300 with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
Another Janitor Becomes
A HUGE Success!
He dropped out of college in 1979 to help his mother raise his four siblings. The amazing story of how he went from janitor… to teacher… to principal!
Not too long ago we told you about how Richard Montanez went from mopping the floors to calling the shots as the Executive Vice President of PepsiCo of North America. Now, here’s is another incredible success story involving a janitor.
His name is Joseph “Gabe” Sonnier and his story starts with very humble beginnings. Sonnier was attending Southern University but decided to drop out and get a job as a janitor to help his mother, a housekeeper, financially support his four siblings.
As you know, time flies. Before he knew it, he was 39 and still a janitor at Port Barre Elementary School. That’s when the school’s Principal pulled Sonnier aside and told him he should be grading papers instead of picking them up off the ground.
That’s when Sonnier decided to finish his education. “I would come to work at like five in the morning and leave at seven, go to school all day, and then come back and finish up my eight hours of work here, and then go home and do homework,” said Sonnier.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree, and in 2008, he went from janitor to teacher at Port Barre Elementary. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Education through Arkansas State University. Last November, he was promoted to Principal of Port Barre Elementary.
His incredible journey has several very important life lessons for anyone and everyone, especially if you are unhappy and your life is not where you would like it to be right now.
Sonnier is known for saying, “Don’t let your situation that you’re in now define what you’re going to become later. I always tell them it’s not where you start, it’s how you finish.”
After reading this, one thing is abundantly clear: It has nothing to do with being a janitor and everything to do with what these two janitors, Mr. Sonnier and Mr. Montanez, thought.
Neither one of these guys has any “special inborn skill.” They are not dramatically smarter, or better looking, or luckier than anyone else. What they ARE is super ACCURATE THINKERS.
They both fully understand that hard work beats talent when talent does not work. Sure, some people are born gifted and if they work hard, then they will probably come out ahead of those who are not as naturally capable. But we do not live in a vacuum, and many gifted people simply do not work hard. That makes it easy for hard-workers to blow right by them.
Accurate thinkers understand that there is plenty of opportunity out there. They do not falsely believe that they are condemned to a life of struggling and lack of success simply because there is no other way. They know there is another way simply because so many other people… just like them… have done it already, and are doing it every day.
They clearly understand that it takes HARD WORK to succeed. Nothing worth anything comes easy. Most people simply do not want to put in effort. Sonnier was up a 5 a.m. every day and worked until late at night. He did this for years and years to reach his goal. How many others are willing to make this kind of sacrifice? Are you? Only you know the answer to that question.
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
Eye Charts and Vision
The Snellen eye chart was created by Herman Snellen, a Dutch eye doctor, in the 1860s. Another popular chart used during eye exams is the Tumbling E chart which features capital letter E’s facing in different directions. This chart comes in handy when young children who don’t know the alphabet are being tested, or for people who don’t know the English alphabet. Rather than say a letter, they can pick the smallest line of E’s that they can see, and say or point which way the “arms” of the E in that line are facing. Numerous studies have shown that this chart and the Snellen chart come up with nearly the same results.
Around one million people aged 40 and older in the United States (US) are considered legally blind. To obtain a driver’s license in the US, you need to have at least 20/40 vision or better. If you can read the fifth line of text on the Snellen chart from 20 feet away, you are considered to have 20/40 vision.
Cataracts, the clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to decreased vision, affects 22 million Americans aged 40 and older. Around half of Americans will have suffered from cataracts by age 80. The medical costs relating to cataract treatment nationwide is estimated at $6.8 billion every year.
Tip Of The Month
New Research: How Video Games Change You In The Real World!
If you play video games, you are not alone. According to the Entertainment Software Association, as of 2013, 58% of Americans play video games. There is an average of two gamers in each game-playing household in the United States (US). The average US household owns at least one dedicated game console, PC, or smartphone. Fifty-one percent of US households own a dedicated game console, and those who do, own an average of two. The average age of a game player is 30 years old and there are more people over the age of 36 playing video games (36%) than between the ages of 18-35 (32%), with 32% being under the age of 18. With so many people playing, and with such a wide age group, the finding of a new study could be very important.
The study reported by the Association for Psychological Science found that how you represent yourself in video games may affect the way you behave and treat others in real life. They reported, “Our results indicate that just five minutes of role-play in virtual environments as either a hero or villain can easily cause people to reward or punish anonymous strangers.” One experiment studied 194 undergraduates. The participants were randomly assigned to a villain, hero, or neutral avatar in the game. They played the game for five minutes. During that five minutes, their avatar (their identity in the game) fought against enemies. After the five minutes ended, the participants took part in a taste test that they believed was not part of the study. In this taste test, they were asked to taste both a chocolate and a chili sauce and then decide which one and how much to give to the next participant.
According to the Association For Psychological Science, “The results were revealing: Participants who played as [the hero] poured, on average, nearly twice as much chocolate as chili sauce for the ‘future participant.’ And they poured significantly more chocolate than those who played as either of the other avatars. Participants who played as the villain, on the other hand, poured out nearly twice as much of the spicy chili sauce than they did chocolate, and they poured significantly more chili sauce compared to the other participants.”
A second, similar experiment of 125 graduates confirmed these finding. According to the lead author of the study, “In virtual environments, people can freely choose avatars that allow them to opt into or out of a certain entity, group, or situation… Consumers and practitioners should remember that powerful imitative effects can occur when people put on virtual masks.”
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know by emailing me at [email protected] .
“At 18 our convictions are hills from which we look; At 45 they are caves in which we hide.”
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
Amazing Technology Lets Doctors See Cancer Cells With High-Tech Glasses!
Why This Breakthrough May Improve Cancer Treatments and Save Lives…
Also this month:
- World’s oldest father has son at age 96: Guess what he eats!
- Does eating too much sugar DOUBLE risk of heart disease? New Research might make you think twice about consuming processed food and drinks loaded with sweeteners.
- Eating this might help you lose weight and live longer: Many people think this food makes you gain weight… but research shows the opposite is true.
- Another Janitor becomes HUGE Success! He dropped out of college in 1979 and became a janitor to help his mother support his four siblings. The amazing story of how he went from janitor… to teacher… to principal!
| H |
ouston – In just a moment, you will read about a fascinating pair of glasses that allows surgeons to actually see cancer cells while they’re in the operating room. It’s pretty awesome and has the potential to dramatically improve the outcome of many cancer surgeries.
But first, here is something fascinating…
It has been reported that Ramjeet Raghav is the world’s oldest new father. Mr. Raghav lives in India, he’s 96 years old, and he just welcomed his second son into the world!
Mr. Raghav fathered his first son back in 2010 and was recognized as the world’s oldest new father at that time too.
Just imagine not only being alive but having enough energy to be that active at age 96!
What is his secret? No one knows for sure, perhaps not even Mr. Raghav, but it’s probably a mixture of great genes and lifestyle. Mr. Raghav is a former wrestler and lives on a diet of milk, butter, and almonds. Perhaps the almonds he eats are magical. J
On a more serious note, almonds and other “tree nuts” appear to be very healthy foods. Many people think nuts are fattening and not healthy because of their fat content, but this is not true. There is “good fat” and there is “bad fat.” Tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts/hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts, and are high in “good” healthy fats.
In fact, a large-scale 30-year-long study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who regularly ate a small handful of nuts at least seven times per week were 20 percent less likely to die for any reason during the length of the study compared with those who largely avoided nuts in their diet.
Here is a quote from the study as reported in the Washington Post: “Even those who ate nuts less than once a week had a 7 percent reduction in risk. Consuming nuts at least five times a week corresponded to a 29 percent drop in mortality risk for heart disease, a 24 percent decline for respiratory disease, and an 11 percent drop for cancer.”
One thing should be noted: People in this study who ate more nuts also ate more fruits and vegetables and were leaner.
This is important for a couple of reasons. First, it takes more than just doing ONE THING, like eating nuts, to be healthy. There is no silver bullet. Good health (and the vibrant energy and awesome feelings that come with it) is the end-result of doing a lot of little things correctly for years and years.
Secondly, it is no shock that the people who ate more nuts also ate other healthy foods. These were probably not just “nut lovers.” They were likely people who were into eating healthy and nuts were one part of what they considered to be a healthy diet.
While we are on the subject of eating correctly for optimal health, yet another study has shown the negative effects of eating too much “bad” sugar. “Bad” sugar is sugar used to sweeten processed foods.
According to Bloomberg News: “High sugar consumption may double the chance of dying from heart disease, according to a study that adds to evidence that high levels of the sweetener in processed foods and drink is bad for a person’s health.
“People whose sugar intake is about a quarter or more of their total daily calories had twice the risk of dying from heart disease than those whose intake was 7 percent, according to the research today in JAMA Internal Medicine. For those whose intake of added sugar was about 19 percent, their risk of dying from heart disease was about 38 percent higher.”
About 37 percent of added sugar in American diets comes from sugar-sweetened beverages, while the rest comes from grain-based desserts, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, and candy. Sugar from fruits and vegetables is not considered added sugar.
Here is something worth writing down: Processed food is generally not good for you. Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and is believed to cause an estimated 600,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Making an effort for you and your family to stay away from processed foods may literally save your life and the lives of your family members.
A Common Food that Can Zap You
of Energy and Make You Gain Weight…
One food that many people mistakenly think is healthy is the bagel. Many bagels are processed white bread and they often contain about 40-50 grams of refined carbohydrates that can spike blood sugar levels, setting off a chain of events that result in the release of hormones like tryptophan into your brain to make you feel tired. Not only that, if you don’t burn off those extra calories, your body may convert them into fat!
Does Yogurt Lower Your Risk of Diabetes?
It looks like it just might. New research published in the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes shows that higher consumption of yogurt, compared with no consumption, can reduce the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes by 28%. Scientists found that higher consumption of low-fat fermented dairy products, which include all yogurt varieties and some low-fat cheeses, also reduced the relative risk of diabetes by 24% overall.
Okay, now for some amazing medical technology that just might…
Blow You Away!
Cancer cells appear to glow blue when viewed through new high-tech glasses designed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine. This may help surgeons visualize cancer cells while performing surgery to remove them. The first surgery performed while wearing these glasses was conducted on February 10, 2014 at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
This is important because cancer cells are very difficult to see, even under the greatest magnification. These glasses have the potential to almost ensure that no cancer cells are left behind during surgery.
Surgeon, Julie Margenthaler, MD, is very optimistic, “Imagine what it would mean if these glasses eliminated the need for follow-up surgery and the associated pain, inconvenience, and anxiety.”
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us at 281-286-1300 with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
Another Janitor Becomes
A HUGE Success!
He dropped out of college in 1979 to help his mother raise his four siblings. The amazing story of how he went from janitor… to teacher… to principal!
Not too long ago we told you about how Richard Montanez went from mopping the floors to calling the shots as the Executive Vice President of PepsiCo of North America. Now, here’s is another incredible success story involving a janitor.
His name is Joseph “Gabe” Sonnier and his story starts with very humble beginnings. Sonnier was attending Southern University but decided to drop out and get a job as a janitor to help his mother, a housekeeper, financially support his four siblings.
As you know, time flies. Before he knew it, he was 39 and still a janitor at Port Barre Elementary School. That’s when the school’s Principal pulled Sonnier aside and told him he should be grading papers instead of picking them up off the ground.
That’s when Sonnier decided to finish his education. “I would come to work at like five in the morning and leave at seven, go to school all day, and then come back and finish up my eight hours of work here, and then go home and do homework,” said Sonnier.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree, and in 2008, he went from janitor to teacher at Port Barre Elementary. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Education through Arkansas State University. Last November, he was promoted to Principal of Port Barre Elementary.
His incredible journey has several very important life lessons for anyone and everyone, especially if you are unhappy and your life is not where you would like it to be right now.
Sonnier is known for saying, “Don’t let your situation that you’re in now define what you’re going to become later. I always tell them it’s not where you start, it’s how you finish.”
After reading this, one thing is abundantly clear: It has nothing to do with being a janitor and everything to do with what these two janitors, Mr. Sonnier and Mr. Montanez, thought.
Neither one of these guys has any “special inborn skill.” They are not dramatically smarter, or better looking, or luckier than anyone else. What they ARE is super ACCURATE THINKERS.
They both fully understand that hard work beats talent when talent does not work. Sure, some people are born gifted and if they work hard, then they will probably come out ahead of those who are not as naturally capable. But we do not live in a vacuum, and many gifted people simply do not work hard. That makes it easy for hard-workers to blow right by them.
Accurate thinkers understand that there is plenty of opportunity out there. They do not falsely believe that they are condemned to a life of struggling and lack of success simply because there is no other way. They know there is another way simply because so many other people… just like them… have done it already, and are doing it every day.
They clearly understand that it takes HARD WORK to succeed. Nothing worth anything comes easy. Most people simply do not want to put in effort. Sonnier was up a 5 a.m. every day and worked until late at night. He did this for years and years to reach his goal. How many others are willing to make this kind of sacrifice? Are you? Only you know the answer to that question.
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
Eye Charts and Vision
The Snellen eye chart was created by Herman Snellen, a Dutch eye doctor, in the 1860s. Another popular chart used during eye exams is the Tumbling E chart which features capital letter E’s facing in different directions. This chart comes in handy when young children who don’t know the alphabet are being tested, or for people who don’t know the English alphabet. Rather than say a letter, they can pick the smallest line of E’s that they can see, and say or point which way the “arms” of the E in that line are facing. Numerous studies have shown that this chart and the Snellen chart come up with nearly the same results.
Around one million people aged 40 and older in the United States (US) are considered legally blind. To obtain a driver’s license in the US, you need to have at least 20/40 vision or better. If you can read the fifth line of text on the Snellen chart from 20 feet away, you are considered to have 20/40 vision.
Cataracts, the clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to decreased vision, affects 22 million Americans aged 40 and older. Around half of Americans will have suffered from cataracts by age 80. The medical costs relating to cataract treatment nationwide is estimated at $6.8 billion every year.
Tip Of The Month
New Research: How Video Games Change You In The Real World!
If you play video games, you are not alone. According to the Entertainment Software Association, as of 2013, 58% of Americans play video games. There is an average of two gamers in each game-playing household in the United States (US). The average US household owns at least one dedicated game console, PC, or smartphone. Fifty-one percent of US households own a dedicated game console, and those who do, own an average of two. The average age of a game player is 30 years old and there are more people over the age of 36 playing video games (36%) than between the ages of 18-35 (32%), with 32% being under the age of 18. With so many people playing, and with such a wide age group, the finding of a new study could be very important.
The study reported by the Association for Psychological Science found that how you represent yourself in video games may affect the way you behave and treat others in real life. They reported, “Our results indicate that just five minutes of role-play in virtual environments as either a hero or villain can easily cause people to reward or punish anonymous strangers.” One experiment studied 194 undergraduates. The participants were randomly assigned to a villain, hero, or neutral avatar in the game. They played the game for five minutes. During that five minutes, their avatar (their identity in the game) fought against enemies. After the five minutes ended, the participants took part in a taste test that they believed was not part of the study. In this taste test, they were asked to taste both a chocolate and a chili sauce and then decide which one and how much to give to the next participant.
According to the Association For Psychological Science, “The results were revealing: Participants who played as [the hero] poured, on average, nearly twice as much chocolate as chili sauce for the ‘future participant.’ And they poured significantly more chocolate than those who played as either of the other avatars. Participants who played as the villain, on the other hand, poured out nearly twice as much of the spicy chili sauce than they did chocolate, and they poured significantly more chili sauce compared to the other participants.”
A second, similar experiment of 125 graduates confirmed these finding. According to the lead author of the study, “In virtual environments, people can freely choose avatars that allow them to opt into or out of a certain entity, group, or situation… Consumers and practitioners should remember that powerful imitative effects can occur when people put on virtual masks.”
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know by emailing me at [email protected] .
Dr Beecher’s March 31 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 31st, 2014
Mental Attitude: Is Stress Contagious? A new report finds that not only do babies pick up on their mother’s stress but their bodies will also mimic physiological changes. Researchers found that when mothers were stressed and then reunited with their infant, the child quickly adopted his/her mother’s stress response, including a corresponding change in heart rate. Lead author Dr. Sara Waters writes, “Before infants are verbal and able to express themselves fully, we can overlook how exquisitely attuned they are to the emotional tenor of their caregivers… Your infant may not be able to tell you that you seem stressed or ask you what is wrong, but our work shows that, as soon as she is in your arms, she is picking up on the bodily responses accompanying your emotional state and immediately begins to feel in her own body your own negative emotion.” Psychological Science, February 2014
Health Alert: Buckle Your Children Up! Although child deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes fell 43% in the United States between 2002 and 2011, car accidents still claim the lives of over 9,000 American children each year. Researchers working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that nearly a third of these deaths can be prevented if parents simply secured their children in age/size appropriate car seats. They point out that in states where car seats are required until ages 7-8, more children are put into car and booster seats and serious injury rates are 17% lower than in states without such laws. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2014
Diet: No More Than 2-3 Cups Per Day… Using current research on the over-consumption of caffeine as a guide, Dr. Laura Juliano, co-author of “Caffeine Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Research Agenda,” recommends healthy adults limit caffeine consumption to no more than two to three cups of coffee per day (about 400 mg/day) and pregnant women to no more than half that amount. She also recommends people with health problems such as anxiety, insomnia, heart problems, or urinary incontinence limit or even eliminate caffeine consumption. Journal of Caffeine Research, February 2014
Exercise: Sitting and Disability. For the first time, a study has labeled sedentary activity as a risk factor for disability for people over age 60. Using data on over 2,000 adults over 60 years of age, researchers were shocked to discover that being sedentary is just as large a risk factor for disability as not exercising, and the risk of disability dramatically increases for each additional hour spent sitting at a computer or on the couch watching TV. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, February 2014
Chiropractic: Acute Low Back Pain Treatment Comparison. In this study, researchers compared the efficacy of spinal manipulation to diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for the treatment of acute low back pain. Based on outcomes including self-rated physical disability, function, time missed from work, and rescue medication use during the following 12 weeks, spinal manipulation proved to be a significantly better treatment. Spine, April 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Mammography Recommended for Women in Their 40s. While the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s 2009 guidelines recommend against routine mammograms for women in their 40s, new research shows that regular screenings would benefit this age group by helping doctors catch the disease when it can still be treated without extensive surgery or chemotherapy. Current statistics show that one in eight women will develop breast cancer, and if the disease is caught early enough, the five-year survival rate is 97%. American Journal of Roentgenology, February 2014
Quote: “To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.” ~ Nicolaus Copernicus
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s March 24 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 24th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Have You Noticed Any Changes in Your Memory? Dr. Erin Abner of the University of Kentucky’s Sanders- Brown Center on Aging asked 3,701 men ages 60 and up if they had noticed any changes in their memory since their last doctor visit. She found that the patients who reported on-going incidences of memory loss that affected their daily lives were more likely to be diagnosed with cognitive decline later in the years ahead. This finding could lead to earlier detection and perhaps more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s diseases and other conditions that affect cognitive function. University of Kentucky, February 2014
Health Alert: Half of All Cancer Deaths Could be Avoided! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early detection could cut the worldwide cancer death rate in half. Experts note the leading preventable risk factors for cancer development are tobacco use, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary activity, unhealthy diet, sexually transmitted diseases, and air pollution. The WHO estimates cancer claimed 8.2 million lives in 2012. World Cancer Report, February 2014
Diet: Four Ways to Reduce Sugar in Your Diet! Here are four tips from the American Heart Association for reducing your added sugar intake: 1) Try putting less sugar on foods like cereals or in beverages like tea and coffee. When you’re used to it, try cutting back even more. 2) Buy fresh fruits or fruits canned in water, not syrup. 3) Instead of sugar, add fresh fruit or dried fruit to foods like oatmeal. 4) Add spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg to foods instead of sugar. American Heart Association, February 2014
Exercise: Walking Decreases COPD Hospitalization Risk. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that describes difficulty breathing due to long-term lung damage. New research shows that COPD sufferers can greatly reduce their risk of hospitalization with severe attacks by simply walking 3-6 kilometers (~1.8-3.6 miles) per day. Respirology, February 2014
Chiropractic: Neck Pain Affects Breathing. Researchers at the Technological Educational Institute of Lamia in Greece examined a group of chronic neck pain patients and a group of individuals with no previous incidence of neck pain to see if a correlation exists between neck pain and respiratory dysfunction. They found that neck pain sufferers have significantly reduced breathing capacity and lower respiratory muscle strength. They also noted a strong association between increased forward head posture and decreased respiratory muscle strength. Cephalalgia, July 2009
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Divorce with Movies? For newlyweds, watching and then discussing movies about relationships appears to be just as effective at preventing divorce as more time and energy intensive counseling programs. Participants attended a ten-minute lecture on the importance of relationship awareness and how watching couples in movies could help them pay better attention to their own behavior. Then, they watched a movie and had a 12 question guided discussion with their spouse. During the following four weeks, they were asked to watch one movie each week from a prepared list of movies and conduct the same guided discussion afterwards. When researchers later compared the three-year divorce rates of couples in this group with couples who participated in either conflict management or compassion and acceptance training, they found each resulted in an 11% three-year divorce rate. The three-year divorce rate for a control group that participated in no interventions was 24%. According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Ronald Rogge, “The results suggest that husbands and wives have a pretty good sense of what they might be doing right and wrong in their relationships. Thus, you might not need to teach them a whole lot of skills to cut the divorce rate. You might just need to get them to think about how they are currently behaving. And for five movies to give us a benefit over three years—that is awesome.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, December 2013
Quote: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” ~ Peter F. Drucker
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s March 17 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 17th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Prevent Burnout. Burnout is described as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and job dissatisfaction. Teachers appear to be especially susceptible to burnout and this has resulted in poor classroom performance, more days missed from work, and high turnover rates in the profession. In this study, teachers were taught transcendental meditation and were followed for four months. Each participant meditated at least once per day, with half meditating at least twice per day. The researchers reported significant improvements in perceived stress, burnout, and depressive symptoms. The Permanente Journal, February 2014
Health Alert: Are Chemicals Used in Food Packaging Harmful? A new report warns that chemicals used in the production, storage, and processing of packaged foods may be harmful to your health over the long-term. The authors of the report note that food manufacturers regularly use small and regulated amounts of chemicals in food packaging known to cause cancer and or disrupt hormones. The trouble, they say, is that there are no existing studies that identify the long-term impact of such exposure or to see if such exposure may be linked to the rise in chronic conditions such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Epidemiology and Community Health, February 2014
Diet: Daily Multivitamin May Reduce Cataract Risk in Men. After reviewing roughly 15 years of data concerning 12,641 male doctors, researchers found that men who took a daily multivitamin were 9% less likely to be diagnosed with a cataract. While 9% may seem small, applied to a large population, this finding could have a substantial impact on public health. Opthalmology, November 2013
Exercise: What Does Your Coach Know? Researchers quizzed 70 youth coaches on topics ranging from exercise physiology, practice design, hydration, nutrition, basic first aid and acute injury management, concussion care, and strength training. While the majority tested well on first aid and CPR knowledge, most coaches scored poorly on questions related to hydration and concussion care. With over 40 million children in the United States participating in organized sports, the demand for coaches and volunteers is greater than ever. The researchers hope this information will help coaches become more knowledgeable on ways to keep youth athletes both safe and healthy. American Council on Exercise, February 2014
Chiropractic: Decrease Pain Sensitivity. Past research has found that spinal manipulation results in a decreased sensitivity to pain, but researchers wanted to find out if this was the result of the adjustment itself or because of the expectation of treatment. To find an answer, researchers divided participants into four groups: no intervention, spinal manipulation, sham manipulation, and sham manipulation with an instruction that the treatment they will receive has been shown to significantly reduce low back pain in some people. Pain sensitivity was assessed both pre- and post-treatment by applying heat to the body until participants reported it reached their pain threshold. The spinal manipulation group showed the greatest decrease in pain sensitivity. Journal of Pain, February 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Postnatal Visits are Important! While medical associations recommend women visit their doctor in the weeks after giving birth, only about half do and the rates aren’t much higher among women who had complicated pregnancies because of high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health problems. These visits are important for all new mothers as they give the doctor an opportunity to recommend preventative care or to address risk factors for chronic diseases when a new mother may be most motivated to make healthier lifestyle choices. Johns Hopkins Medicine, February 2014
Quote: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” ~ Mark Twain
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s March 10 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 10th, 2014
Mental Attitude: The Invisible Risk Group. Researchers studied 12,395 European teenagers ages 14-16 to identify which risky behaviors were linked to depression, anxiety, conduct problems, and self-destructive behaviors. Risky behaviors included excessive alcohol use, illegal drug use, inadequate sleep, sedentary behavior, and excessive time spent watching TV, on the computer, or playing video games. The researchers identified three risk groups. The high risk group accounted for 13% of adolescents. They were likely to engage in all the risk behaviors previously mentioned and were most at risk for mental illness. The low-risk group accounted for 58% of adolescents. They engage in one or no risky behaviors and were at the lowest risk for mental illness. Researchers named the third group the invisible risk group. They had the same risk for mental illness as the high risk group but only participated in unobtrusive risky behaviors such as inadequate sleep, excessive media use, and sedentary behavior. The authors of the study conclude, “While discussions with adolescents often focus on substance abuse and delinquency, the risk behaviors indentured here need to be
considered, and special attention given to encouraging sufficient sleep, participation in sports, and using new media moderately.” World Psychiatry, February 2013
Health Alert: The Average Obese Person Exercises Less Than Four Hours Per Year! Using data from a 2005-2006 United States government survey on nearly 2,600 adults, researcher Dr. Edward Archer at the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham calculated that the average obese women gets just one hour of vigorous exercise per year while the average obese man manages only 3.6 hours per year. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, December 2013
Diet: Possible Test for Obesity Predisposition. A study of 2,258 10-year olds in the United Kingdom found that children with a genetic propensity towards obesity also had lower satiety responsiveness. This finding could be used to identify children who may be at risk for being overweight or obese and teach them techniques to feel fuller while eating such as controlling portion sizes, eating slower, keeping treats out of sight, and avoiding second helpings. JAMA Pediatrics, February 2014
Exercise: Gardening is Good Exercise for Youth. Researchers have identified gardening as a great exercise for kids. This study involved 17 children who engaged in ten gardening tasks: digging, raking, weeding, mulching, hoeing, sowing seeds, harvesting, watering, mixing growing medium, and planting transplants. The results showed that tasks such as digging and raking were high- intensity activities while the remaining activities were considered moderate-intensity physical activities. The researchers claim the study results could facilitate the development of garden-based exercise interventions for children to promote health and a physically active lifestyle. HortTechnology, October 2013
Chiropractic: Used by Severe Migraine Sufferers. A study of 225 severe migraine sufferers found that during the previous two years, nearly the same percentage sought treatment from a Doctor of Chiropractic (27.1%) as sought out pharmacological treatment from their General Practitioner (27.6%). Headache, February 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Preventing Teen Prescription Drug Abuse. Prescription drug abuse kills more people in the United States each year than cocaine and heroin combined. A six-year study on the efficacy of programs designed to curb teenage prescription drug abuse finds that school-based programs are largely ineffective unless they are coupled with home-based interventions. Still, even the best programs only decrease abuse rates by 10% suggesting that parents, educators, communities, and local governments need to work together to find better interventions to stop teenaged prescription drug abuse. Preventive Medicine, February 2014
Quote: “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” ~ Albert Einstein
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
