Dr Beecher’s August 20 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 20th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Feeling Sleepy? One third of all workers sleep less than six hours each day, instead of the recommended 7-9 hours. People especially at risk of not getting enough sleep include those in the health care, social assistance, and transportation fields. CDC, June 2012
Health Alert: Cancer and Aging. Why does our risk of developing cancer increase as we age? By the time we stop growing in our teens, we accumulate a large percentage of the mutations we will have during our lifetime. There’s a mismatch between the mutation curve and the cancer curve, meaning that if cancer is caused by reaching a tipping point of mutations, then we should see higher cancer rates in 20-year-olds, as this is when the mutation rate is highest. The body’s healthy cells function best in healthy, younger tissue; however, in older tissue, cancerous cells may adapt better in that environment than healthy cells and more easily propagate. Oncogene, June 2012
Diet: Food Industry Should Be Regulated? “The obesity crisis is made worse by the way industry formulates and markets its products, and so must be regulated to prevent excesses and to protect the public good,” writes Kelly Brownell, a leading food expert. He argues that left to regulate itself, the food industry has the opportunity, if not the mandate from shareholders, to sell more products irrespective of their impact on consumers. Thus, government, foundations, and other powerful institutions should push for regulation of, and not collaboration with, the food industry. PLoS Medicine, July 2012
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise reduces your risk of developing Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes, reduces the risk of developing breast cancer and improves mental cognition (a short-term effect only).
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Joint Friction? The supplement chondroitin sulfate significantly reduces the friction coefficient of articular cartilage, which, in turn, leads to a decreased risk of joint degeneration.
Journal of Biomechanics, 2007
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D and Fractures. Taking 800-2,000 IUs of vitamin D per day significantly reduces the risk of most fractures in men and women age 65 and older. In a study, the top 25% of Vitamin D consumers sustained 30% fewer hip fractures and 14% fewer fractures of other bones. There was no benefit to taking Vitamin D supplements in doses below 800 IUs. The cost of treating a hip fracture is $26,912.
New England Journal of Medicine, June 2012
Quote: “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ~Unknown
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 13 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 13th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Catching Colds? The risk of contracting a cold, regardless of pre-existing immunity, after being exposed to cold viruses is 52% less in parents compared with those who have no children. The finding may be expected considering that when children get colds, the parents may develop protective antibodies against the specific viruses that cause these colds. However, the findings revealed that based on levels of antibodies to the study viruses, the lower risk of colds in parents could not be explained by pre-existing immunity. Volunteers who were parents tended to develop fewer colds irrespective of whether or not they had protective levels of antibodies. One possible explanation may be that being a parent improves regulation of immune factors (cytokines) that are triggered in response to infection. According to earlier research, cytokine responses explain the protective effects of psychological factors, such as lower stress or a positive attitude against the risk of colds.
American Psychosomatic Society, July 2012
Health Alert: Cortisone. Injections of corticoid preparations can have severe side effects. In 278 cases of complications after corticoid injections, medical errors were found to have been committed in 40% of cases. Typical errors include faulty asepsis, treatment without indication, and injections that were too closely spaced in time or in excessive doses. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, July 2012
Diet: The Not So Small Intestine. Have you ever wondered how your body gets nutrients out of your food? Your small intestine absorbs most of your food; however, the small intestine is not that small. The average surface of the human small intestine is about the size of a tennis court! Gray’s Anatomy
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise improves respiratory muscle strength and muscle endurance (particularly important for asthmatics), reduces your risk of having a stroke and helps you to burn excess calories.
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Move Your Joints! Range-of-motion exercises can help maintain normal joint function by increasing and preserving joint mobility and flexibility. The Cleveland Clinic, 2007
Wellness/Prevention: Constant Change. A big reason to stay healthy is that the cells of your body are constantly replaced. Eating right and exercising will give the new cells the best chance to become healthy cells. For example, did you know that humans shed and re-grow outer skin cells about every 27 days? That’s almost 1,000 new skins in a lifetime! Gray’s Anatomy
Quote: “Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.”
~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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 2012 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
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“Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.” ~ Isaac Newton
Is Exercise A Drug and Can It Hurt Your Heart?
Also in this issue:
- Want to live longer and healthier? Researchers may have discovered a way to do it… and it’s not all in your genes.
- Second hand smoke and children… more bad news.
- The Matt W. Story: How the courage of a young man with cerebral palsy inspired an entire school.
In today’s high-tech, fast paced society, we all tend to over think, over complicate, and make things more difficult. This is especially true when it comes to our health.
For example, there is pretty good evidence that exercise is good for you and people who exercise are, in general, healthier than people who do not exercise.ouston – In today’s high-tech, fast paced society, we all tend to over think, over complicate, and make things more difficult. This is especially true when it comes to our health.
Few people would dispute it, but that simple statement can be taken to the EXTREME. How? Many people think if a little exercise improves health, then more must really improve health.
Well, some researchers are now saying this thought process may be very, very, very flawed.
Here is why: Researcher Dr. James O’Keefe, a cardiologist at the Mid America Heart Institute of St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, reported in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings that strenuous exercise might actually harm your heart.
According to Daily Mail, “Extreme exercise, such as marathons, may permanently damage the heart and trigger rhythm abnormalities… [Researchers] say the safe ‘upper limit’ for heart health is a maximum of an hour a day, after which there is little benefit to the individual.
“A review of research evidence by US physicians says intensive training schedules and extreme endurance competitions can cause long-term harm to people’s hearts. Activities such as marathons, iron man distance triathlons, and very long distance bicycle races may cause structural changes to the heart and large arteries, leading to lasting injury.”
Dr. James O’Keefe said, “Physical exercise, though not a drug, possesses many traits of a powerful pharmacologic agent. A routine of daily physical activity can be highly effective for prevention and treatment of many diseases, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, and obesity.
“However, as with any pharmacologic agent, a safe upper dose limit potentially exists, beyond which the adverse effects of physical exercise, such as musculoskeletal trauma and cardiovascular stress, may outweigh its benefits.”
Dr. O’Keefe thinks the research suggests that extreme endurance training can cause elevated cardiac biomarkers and transient structural cardiovascular changes that normalized in about a week.
The review found:
- Approximately 12% of seemingly healthy marathon runners showed evidence for patchy myocardial scarring.
- The two-year follow-up showed a significantly higher rate of coronary heart disease in marathon runners versus runners who do not run marathons.
- Elite level athletes commonly develop abnormal electrocardiograms. Studies show that too much exercise can lead to abnormal heart rhythms.
- Continued excessive exercise may lead to arterial wall stiffening.
It is important to note that Dr. O’Keefe mentioned long-term, vigorous exercisers have a lower death and disability rate than non-exercisers.
If the information in the report is accurate, exercising like crazy is better than not exercising at all… but moderate exercise is better than over-doing it.
Many people (marathon runners, triathletes, etc.) were enraged by this report, and quite frankly, many factors were not accounted for in this research.
For example, does nutrition change the results? What about high carbohydrates versus low carbohydrates? The list here could go on and on…
But the really important point is: EVERYTHING HAS LIMITS.
For example, most people believe that drinking water is good for you. Not always. If you drink too much water, you can actually DIE. In fact, a 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that close to one-sixth of marathon runners develop some degree of hyponatremia, or dilution of the blood caused by drinking too much water.
Drinking the proper amount of water is good for you. Too little is bad. Too much is also bad.
We may need to look at exercise the same way. Too little exercise is bad and too much is also bad.
Genetically, we are all different. We all have different amounts of stress and strain we can take.
But, we all have a threshold. Exercising up to that threshold will be beneficial, but crossing it will not be beneficial and probably harmful.
Will some people be “okay” doing marathons or triathlons because they are genetically superior? Probably. It’s just like some people smoke and live to be 95 years old and seem to be “healthy” their whole lives.
Then again, other people get lung cancer in their 40’s and don’t survive it.
Famous Chiropractor Jack Lalanne frequently said it is all about moderation. He thought it was better to exercise a little every day than to go crazy every now and then. He was probably on to something.
Now for something completely different, but equally as important…
More Bad News About
Second-Hand Smoke and Children
In a presentation at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting, physicians from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital showed more evidence that second-hand cigarette smoke is an environmental toxin and dangerous to children’s health
“Our research shows that exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke increases the risk of severe urinary disorders in children that may otherwise be reduced or even prevented,” said Joseph G. Barone, MD, an expert pediatric urologist, Associate Professor of Surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Surgeon-In-Chief of Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “Our results emphasize the importance of smoking cessation for parents. Pediatricians and family physicians are urged to discuss with parents opportunities that are available to quit smoking.”
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that parents are responsible for 90 percent of their children’s exposure to environmental (second-hand) tobacco smoke.
And 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 Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
The Matt W. Story
How The Courage Of A Young Man With Cerebral Palsy
Inspired An Entire School. Do YOU Have These Kinds Of Guts?
Who knows what his real, full name is. “Matt W.” was all that was given and that’s all that is needed, because Matt W.’s actions speak louder than words ever could.
Here is why: Matt W. is a student at Worthington Colonial Hills Elementary School in Ohio. But Matt W. is not your average student. You see, Matt suffers from cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a serious condition and according to the Mayo Clinic, “Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth. Signs and symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years. In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement associated with exaggerated reflexes or rigidity of the limbs and trunk, abnormal posture, involuntary movements, unsteadiness of walking, or some combination of these. The effect of cerebral palsy on functional abilities varies greatly. People with cerebral palsy often have other conditions related to developmental brain abnormalities, such as intellectual disabilities, vision and hearing problems, or seizures.”
That’s why it was a very big deal when Matt decided he was going to run the 400 meters (approximately ¼ mile) at his school’s once a year track event. What happened during that race is one of the most inspirational events you’ll ever see. There’s a link to a video of it below, but we’ll describe it here…
At the start of the race, all the 5th and 6th graders took off. Matt slowly made his way off the starting line. His running strides were labored but what he lacked in grace he made up for in determination… tenfold. The video’s soundtrack is the theme for Rocky.
The race was two complete laps around the 200 meter track and the other students quickly lapped him. Then, the real magic started. Matt’s gym teacher, John Blaine, started running the race with Matt while providing him verbal and emotional support.
As Matt completed the first lap, supporters started to cheer more. About a quarter of the way around his second lap, a little girl made her way over to Matt while yelling to cheer him on. Inspired by Matt (and taking the little girl’s lead) more students rushed over to join Matt.
Students completely surrounded him with everyone chanting over and over, “Let’s go Matt… Let’s go!!!” Matt picked up his pace as his classmates and friends energized him.
More and more students appeared. They all crossed the finished line together with a massive cheer in just under four minutes. The students swarmed Matt with high fives and hugs. Matt was obviously exhausted but enjoyed this amazing moment with his supporters.
Matt’s mother broke down in tears several times as she witnessed her son’s incredible journey and life lesson for us all.
Many doctors believe in the power of positive thought. Not only does it have the power to possibly heal us, but it can also move mountains when it has to.
Matt W. may never win an Olympic Gold medal, but his actions during this 400 meter race may change more lives than any Gold Medal winner probably ever has.
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?…
When we think about how to be happier we typically look for things to achieve or add to our lives. However, sometimes the key to happiness is actually giving up certain perspectives and behaviors. Here are a few things you can give up in order to become a happier person:
- Give up the habit of blaming. Blame is a scapegoat for taking responsibility of your own outcome. It is a lot easier to point the finger at someone or something else instead of looking within. Blame is not constructive. It does not help you or the other person. Nobody wins in the blame game. The amount of energy and stress it takes to blame just keeps you from moving forward and finding a solution.
- Give up your need to impress. When you accept who you are, and you embrace your quirks, flaws, strengths and vulnerabilities, you’ll get a lot more comfortable in your own skin. When you’re confident, you stop caring so much about what everyone thinks of you. You stop worrying if someone will like you or not, because deep down you know that the people who falsely judge you don’t matter in your life.
- Give up being a victim. The perspective that you are just the result of all external variables deflects responsibility for taking control over your own life. It is unfortunate that sometimes bad things happen to the best of people. Life can be unfair, unkind and unjust. However, being stuck in a victim mentality does not nurture your ability to move forward and onward.
- Give up feeling entitled. Nobody owes you anything. Nobody. When you approach life with the perspective that you are owed things, it’s likely that you will find yourself disappointed time and time again. When you are grateful for what you have, and see positive things as bonuses versus owed expectations, then you’ll be surprisingly pleased.
- Give up pretending. In a society where we are rewarded for perfection, we constantly pretend to be perfect. We try to show the world that we are flawless human beings in hopes that we will be liked and accepted. But when we embrace who we are and decide to be authentic instead of perfect, we open ourselves up to have true connection with others. There is no need to put on a show. There is no need to pretend to be something or someone you are not. You are perfect the way you are.
Tip Of The Month
Want to live longer and healthier?
Researchers may have discovered a way to do it…
and it’s not all in your genes.
Want to live a longer and healthier life? Here are some things that might help you do it! First, let’s look at “centenarians.” A “centenarian” is someone who lives to be 100 years old or more. Researchers developed a questionnaire designed to identify certain genetically-based personality traits and used it to assess 243 Ashkenazi Jewish adults between 95 and 107 years of age. The investigators chose this population because their genetic similarity would make it easier to account for genetic differences in personality.
“The results indicated they had two things — a positive attitude for life, meaning they are optimistic, easygoing, extraverted, laughed more and [they] expressed emotions rather than bottling them up,” said Dr. Nil Barzilai, a study co-author and Director of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Institute for Aging Research.
Other experts believe there is an interaction between personality and physiology, and it makes sense that being positive causes less stress which leads to a healthier life. In other words, some experts believe genes alone have less influence on our life span than most people think. Dr. Gary Small, Director of the UCLA Center on Aging said, “Several studies have found that genetics accounts for only about one-third of how long and well we live.”
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.
Dr Beecher’s July 30 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 30th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Depression and High-Fat Diets. In addition to causing obesity, rich foods can actually cause chemical reactions in the brain that ultimately lead to depression. Researchers observed that mice that received
a higher-fat diet showed signs of being anxious by avoiding open areas, as well as signs of depression.
International Journal of Obesity, April 2012
Health Alert: Pediatric Blood Pressure! A study of 2500 pediatric patient visits revealed that doctors and nurses failed to check blood pressure 20% of the time. Of the 2000 patients who were checked, 726 had elevated blood pressure scores; however, 87% of these findings went unremarked and unrecognized by the medical staff. Pediatrics, June 2010
Diet: Junk Food and Disney. Junk food ads will be banned from The Walt Disney Company’s TV channels, websites and radio stations that are targeted at kids. Disney added that it is the first media company to take such action. Children watching shows on its ABC network will no longer be exposed to fast food and sugary cereal ads that do not meet the company’s nutritional standards. Disney says its guidelines match those issued by federal authorities (more vegetables and fruits, and a reduction in sodium, sugar and saturated fat intake). Christian Science Monitor, June 2012
Exercise: Pain Relief? Exercise helps to alleviate pain related to nerve damage (neuropathic pain) by reducing levels of certain inflammation-promoting factors called cytokines. This supports exercise as a potentially useful non-drug treatment for neuropathic pain. In experiments, exercise reduced abnormal pain responses by 30-50%. Anesthesia & Analgesia, June 2012
Chiropractic: Effects Of Motion. Patients with DJD (degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) participating in conditioning exercises showed significant improvement in endurance, grip strength, and flexibility. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 1984
Wellness/Prevention: Reduce Indoor Air Pollution. Cooking with gas burners on stoves and in ovens can produce unhealthy levels of indoor air pollution. These pollution levels can be higher than those encountered in heavily polluted outdoor air. Simply turn on the range exhaust fan and cook on the back burners to minimize your exposure. Environmental Science & Technology, June 2012
Quote: “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” ~ Dalai Lama
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s July 23 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 23rd, 2012
Mental Attitude: Eating Together? Family dinners are associated with lower incidences of teen depression, substance use, and delinquency. Family meals may afford a regular and positive context for parents to connect with kids emotionally, to monitor their social and academic activities, and to convey values and expectations. Journal of Marriage and Family, June 2012
Health Alert: I’ll Have Another. There is good evidence that moderate alcohol consumption protects against heart disease, but when all of the chronic disease risks are balanced against each other, the optimal consumption level is much lower than many people believe. Researchers analyzed the link between alcohol consumption and
11 chronic diseases (five cancers, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, epilepsy, and diabetes), and concluded that limiting alcohol consumption to half a drink a day (1/2 glass of wine or 1/2 can of beer) would save more lives. BMJ Open, May 2012
Diet: Hurry and Get Curry. The spice turmeric is an ingredient in curries and has been used for 2,500 years as a major part of the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. A compound found in the spice called curcumin can increase the levels of a protein known to be vital in the immune system. It’s possible that sustained consumption over time may be healthy and protect against infection, especially in the stomach and intestinal tract.
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, June 2012
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise improves respiratory muscle strength, improves muscle endurance, reduces your risk of having a stroke, and helps you burn excess calories.
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Take A Deep Breath. Chiropractic care can increase the ability for the lungs to inflate and the ribcage to move, helping you breathe better.
Wellness/Prevention: Increasing Fiber. Only 1% of adolescents consumed the recommended daily intake of fiber, 28 grams for females and 38 grams for males. On average, they consumed only one-third of the recommendation. Those who don’t eat enough fiber tend to have bigger bellies and higher levels of inflammatory factors in their blood, both major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, June 2012
Quote: “The only failure one man should fear, is the failure to do his best.” ~ DD Palmer
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s July 16 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 16th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Appreciation! People who appreciate what they have are more likely to live happy, satisfied lives. Personality and Individual Differences, March 2012
Health Alert: Life-Threatening Accidental Acetaminophen Overdosing In Children! Acetaminophen, a widely available over-the-counter medication, can cause liver toxicity in children if recommended doses are exceeded. Clearly, more public education is needed to warn of potential adverse effects. Repeated supratherapeutic dosing (above the recommended dose), accidental overdose (due to error) and intentional ingestion can all result in acute liver failure and even death. 11% of children who are given pharmaceuticals experience a medication error such as an incorrect medication, incorrect dose or method of administering. Acetaminophen overdose is the most common agent responsible for a life-threatening event, longer-term illness or death among children. Canadian Medical Association Journal, June 2012
Diet: Tart Cherry Juice. Drinking tart cherry juice two times per day for three weeks resulted in considerable reductions in vital inflammation markers. This is good news for arthritis and join pain sufferers.
American College of Sports Medicine Conference, May 2012
Exercise: Improved Health With Less Training? The new 10-20-30 training concept consists of a warm-up at a low intensity followed by 3-4 blocks of 5 minutes running interspersed by 2 minutes of rest. Each block consists of 5 consecutive 1-minute intervals divided into 30, 20 and 10 seconds of running at a low, moderate and near maximal intensity, respectively. Runners were able to improve performance on a 1500m run by 23 seconds and almost by a minute on a 5km run, despite a 50% reduction in their total amount of training. The runners also had a significant decrease in blood pressure and a reduction in blood cholesterol.
Journal of Applied of Physiology, June 2012
Chiropractic: The Rusty Gate! A gate is a good analogy for understanding bone joint degeneration. A new gate moves free and easy, much like healthy joints. In time, as the joint and gate hinge begin to breakdown or rust, movement becomes restricted and slower. With chiropractic care, your joints can maintain proper motion. For the gate, try WD40. ☺
Wellness/Prevention: Brush Your Teeth! People who receive regular teeth cleanings had a lower chance of heart attack and stroke. American Journal of Medicine, June 2012
Quote: “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?” ~ 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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s July 9 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 9th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Marriage and Happiness! Married people may be happier in the long run than those who aren’t married. Matrimony does not make people happier than they were when they were single, but it appears to protect against normal declines in happiness during adulthood. Journal of Research in Personality, June 2012
Health Alert: Up In Smoke? Cigarette smoking contributes to significantly higher hospital costs ($900 for each patient) for smokers undergoing elective general surgery. 30% of patients undergoing elective general surgery procedures smoke. Smoking is also linked with an increased risk of numerous postoperative complications, especially those related to pulmonary, cardiovascular, and wound-healing outcomes. Evidence suggests that quitting smoking before an operation, even as little as 4-6 weeks prior to the procedure, improves postoperative outcomes and decreases complications in patients.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons, June 2012
Diet: Damaged Kidneys and Low-Carb Diets? Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets (like the Atkins diet) have been popular among dieters for years. Experts have worried that such diets may be harmful to the kidneys. Researchers found that a low-carbohydrate, high-protein weight loss diet did not cause noticeably harmful effects to patients’ kidney function or their fluid and electrolyte balance when compared with a low-fat diet. The results are relevant to the millions of obese adults who use dieting as a weight loss strategy.
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, June 2012
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise increases your cardiac reserve, improves coronary (heart) circulation, and offsets some of the negative side effects of antihypertensive drugs.
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Notables: “Being a chiropractic patient has really helped me.” ~ Tiger Woods.
Wellness/Prevention: Live Longer – Exercise & Diet. According to a recent study, women aged 70-79 who exercise and eat healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables have a longer life expectancy than those who do not. What makes this study unique is that it looked at these two factors together. Researchers found that the women who were most physically active and had the highest fruit and vegetable consumption were 8 times more likely to survive the 5 year follow-up period than the women with the lowest rates of exercise and healthy eating. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, June 2012
Quote: “Discontent is the first necessity of progress.” ~ Thomas A. Edison
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s July 2 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 2nd, 2012
Mental Attitude: Immune Against Alzheimer’s? Researchers discovered the best marker associated with memory is a gene called CCR2. This gene showed immune system activity against beta-amyloid, thought to be the main substance that causes Alzheimer’s disease. According to Dr. Lorna Harries, “Identification of a key player in the interface between immune function and cognitive ability may help us to gain a better understanding of the disease processes involved in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.”
National Institute on Aging, June 2012
Health Alert: Cancer Rates Expected To Increase! Cancer incidence is expected to increase more than 75% by the year 2030 in developed countries, and over 90% in developing nations. Countries must take action to combat the projected increases in cancer rates via primary prevention strategies such as healthier lifestyles, early detection, and effective treatment programs. Lancet Oncology, June 2012
Diet: Snacking On Raisins. Eating raisins as an after-school snack prevents excessive calorie intake and increases the feeling of fullness as compared to other commonly consumed snacks. Grapes, potato chips and cookies resulted in approximately 56%, 70% and 108% higher calorie intake compared to raisins, respectively. The cumulative calorie intake (breakfast + morning snack + lunch + after-school snack) was 10-19% lower in children who ate raisins as an after school snack when compared to children who consumed other snacks. Canadian Nutrition Society, May 2012
Exercise: Exercise and Cancer. Researchers are working toward proving that daily yoga or 20 minutes of walking will likely extend a cancer patient’s survival. In 15 years, doctors have gone from being afraid to recommend exercise to cancer patients to having enough data that shows it is safe and effective, particularly for relief of treatment side effects. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, June 2012
Chiropractic: Some Nerve? Your nervous system runs and controls every aspect of your body. For example, there are 45 miles of nerves in your skin alone! Gray’s Anatomy
Wellness/Prevention: Early Stress? Children who experience intense and lasting stressful events in their lives score lower on tests of the spatial working memory and have more trouble on tests of short-term memory. Journal of Neuroscience, June 2012
Quote: “Remember to perform random acts of kindness.” ~ From the film Pay It Forward, released in 2000
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s July 2012 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” ~ Albert Einstein
An Avocado A Day Can Help Keep The Wrinkles Away?
More Great Stuff:
- Are Avocados An Anti-Aging Super Food?
- Want To Kill Weeds Without Toxic Chemicals?
- Did Chiropractic Care Help 15-1 Long Shot “I’ll Have Another” Win The Kentucky Derby?
- Former Professional Wrestler Helps Disabled Gulf War Veteran Lose 140 Lbs. And Walk Again!
“Just rub this wonder cream on and your face and all your wrinkles will instantly disappear!” We’ve all seen the commercials, and the results they show are pretty sensational. Isn’t it funny how that “wonder cream” is usually from some accidental discovery or from some magical plant in the rainforest?
What happens when you buy that wonder cream? Yeah, that’s right… NOTHING! Except your wallet is $19.95 lighter (plus shipping and handling).
So, instead of all that fantasy stuff, let’s talk about the real world and something you can eat that is good for you and might help slow the aging process.
That Food Is A Fruit &
It Is Called The Avocado
Why is the avocado so great? First, it has a very high level of oleic acid. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that aids in fat metabolism.
Avocados also have high levels of lutein, zeaxanthin and Vitamin E. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoid antioxidants. According to the American Optometric Association:
“Many studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
“Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that filter harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light and act as antioxidants in the eye, helping protect and maintain healthy cells.”
Avocados also contain ionic potassium and folate. Potassium – Sodium ratios are very important to keep your heart healthy and functioning properly.
If you eat vegetables (and you should), here’s another great thing about avocados…
According to Natural News, most vegetables contain high amounts of carotenoid based antioxidants. “Studies have shown that these antioxidants are lipophilic (fat-loving) and are absorbed best in the body when combined with a healthy fat such as oleic acid.”
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition in March 2005 showed that adding avocados to salad increased absorption of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein 7.2, 15.3, and 5.1 times higher, respectively, than the average amount of these carotenoids absorbed when avocado-free salad was eaten.
In other words, eating avocados in your salad and with vegetables is (most likely) a very good thing!
What Type Of Avocados
Should You Eat?
Both Florida (the big avocados) and Hass avocados are good for your digestive tract because they contain soluble and insoluble fiber. However, Hass avocados have higher concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin and some other nutrients.
Can Avocados Prevent Skin Wrinkling?
Some think avocados can prevent wrinkles and skin aging. It is believed avocados are great anti-aging foods because they contain D-manno-heptuloe sugar. This sugar has been shown to improve skin epidermis by boosting collagen formation.
Avocados contain antioxidants that may reduce age spots, decrease inflammation and help scars to heal.
Did Chiropractic Care
Help 15-1 Long Shot
“I’ll Have Another”
Win The Kentucky Derby?
Chiropractic care has helped countless people, including many world-class professional athletes and celebrities!
Chiropractors are musculoskeletal system experts, and since animals and horses have musculoskeletal systems, why wouldn’t Chiropractic care also help them?
Well, according to USA Today, Larry “Thumper” Jones has been helping horses with Chiropractic care for years.
Years ago, Jones suffered a hockey injury and had back surgery. His rehabilitation was unsuccessful, and it wasn’t until a Chiropractor treated him that he got better.
For 30 years now, Jones has been treating horses as an equine Chiropractor. He has worked with top racehorses such as $5.2 million dollar winning horse, Lava Man. He recently worked on I’ll Have Another the week before the 15-1 long shot won the Kentucky Derby.
According to USA Today: “Jones, 53, describes I’ll Have Another as a ‘yoga specialist’ who has complete range of motion in his joints. He laughed, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if the horse could put his leg behind his head. As a result, I’ll Have Another should be able to take long strides, using less energy to get around the track.
“Keeping horses limber, relaxed and mobile is important, Jones said, as for any athlete. He said he uses instinct to know when a horse needs treatment, saying the animals often indicate the areas where they have tightness or pain.
“This week, I’ll Have Another will get some massages, done with a vibrating machine that helps to loosen muscles and increase blood flow.”
It looks like Jones was right. I’ll Have Another did take some long strides and won the Kentucky Derby! (Editor’s note: After this article was written, I’ll Have Another also won the Preakness Stakes, the 2nd leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, but had to pull out of the Belmont Stakes.)
If Chiropractic care is good enough for top professional athletes and Kentucky Derby winning horses, then it just might be good enough for you too!
And 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 Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
Former Professional Wrestler Helps Disabled Gulf War Veteran Lose 140 lbs. And Walk Again!
Arthur Boorman was a paratrooper in the Gulf War. All the jumps took their toll on his back and knees. Unable to easily move from the pain, he gained weight, ballooning up the 297 pounds. He was no longer able to walk without the assistance of two crutches.
Doctors told Arthur he would never walk unassisted again, and he believed them… for 15 long years. He was 47 years old and had given up hope.
He thought exercise was impossible. He wanted to try Yoga, but instructors wouldn’t give him a shot; that is, until he found an unlikely angel. As the story goes, one day Arthur stumbled across the website of former professional wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page (DDP). DDP’s yoga seemed different and inspirational to Arthur. So, he sent DDP an email detailing his situation. DDP read his story and looked at his pictures. His immediate reaction was, “God, how am I gonna help that guy?” But, he was willing to try. Arthur said, “He didn’t know me… but he believed in me… when no one else did.”
Arthur began trying DDP’s yoga via DVDs in his living room. He fell. Over and over again… he fell. But every time, he kept getting back up. He kept trying because someone believed in him. He also started eating the way DDP advised him to. He started losing weight and gaining balance. He fell less and less.
Then, the most important thing took place… Arthur started to believe it could happen. He lost 100 pounds in 6 months. Then, he lost 40 more. He sent DDP videos documenting every step of his amazing transformation. But, there was one video that made even this big, bad ex-pro wrestler cry.
In the last video, DDP could see Arthur walking unassisted for the first time in 15 years. No wheelchair. No crutches. Then, all of a sudden… Arthur started running! He picked up speed and sprinted by the camera. The end of the video says: “They were wrong… it was possible. Never underestimate what you can accomplish when you believe in yourself. Almost anything is possible when you believe in yourself. Never give up. I lost 140 lbs. in 10 months. Thanks DDP for believing in me.”
Notice he thanked DDP for believing in him and not the Yoga? It’s something to think about. Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXOo8D9Qsc
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?…
- The average red blood cell lives for 120 days.
- There are 2.5 trillion (give or take) red blood cells in your body at any moment.
- A red blood cell can circumnavigate your body in less than 20 seconds.
- Nerve Impulses travel at over 25 mph (40 km/hr).
- A sneeze generates a wind of 100 mph (166 km/hr).
- A cough moves out at 60 mph (100 km/hr).
- Our heart beats around 100,000 times every day.
- Our eyes can distinguish up to one million color surfaces and take in more information than the largest telescope known to man.
- Our lungs inhale over two million liters of air every day.
- When we touch something, we send a message to our brain at 124 mph.
- We exercise at least 30 muscles when we smile.
- We make one liter of saliva a day.
- Our nose is our personal air conditioning system: it warms cold air, cools hot air and filters impurities.
- In one square inch of our hand, we have nine feet of blood vessels, 600 pain sensors, 9,000 nerve endings, 36 heat sensors and 75 pressure sensors.
- A person can expect to breathe in about 40 pounds of dust over his/her lifetime.
Tip Of The Month
How To Kill Weeds Without Toxic Chemicals!
If you have a garden or plant flowers, then you know how much of a pain weeds can be. They pop up everywhere and pulling them is not only time consuming but it can be brutal on your hands and back. Most of the time, weed picking involves a slumped over (bad) posture. Spend an hour or an afternoon picking weeds and you might feel some serious back pain!
But, the alternative, spraying toxic weed killing chemicals, has a serious down side. These chemicals are not a joke. Not only are they toxic to weeds, they are bad news for humans and pets, too. Getting them on your skin and inhaling them can be bad for your health. Then, there are the environmental issues of putting those chemicals into the ground. Rainwater washes them everywhere… into gardens, the food supply, the water supply, etc.
There is another way! Most people do not know the power of vinegar to kill weeds! Vinegar will even do it without all the potential hazards of the powerful chemicals. All you have to do is spray the vinegar on the leaves of the weeds until they are wet. In a few days, the weeds will be dead!
There are two things you should know about using vinegar to kill weeds: 1) Vinegar is activated by sunlight. So, check your weather report and try to pick a day when it will be sunny and not raining. 2) Vinegar does not discriminate! It will kill ALL plants that it is sprayed on. So, only spray it on the weeds you want to kill. Do not get it on your flowers, tomato plants, etc.
Besides being safe and effective, vinegar is pretty cheap. All types of vinegar will work and white vinegar is usually the cheapest. If you spray it on and it rains and the weeds do not die, it is easy and inexpensive to simply do it again. FYI: Vinegar is great to use to kill the weeds that grow in sidewalk cracks!
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.
Dr Beecher’s June 25 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, June 25th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Impressionable Youth. Alcohol is responsible for 4,700 deaths per year among young people under the age of 21. At least 14 studies have found that the more young people are exposed to alcohol advertising and marketing, the more likely they are to drink, or if they are already drinking, to drink more. Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, May 2012
Health Alert: Oxygen and Cancer. A new study suggests the primary cause of uncontrollable tumor growth in some cancers may be hypoxia (low oxygen levels in cells) and not genetic mutations, as is widely believed. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, May 2012
Diet: Be Careful What You Watch. Researchers digitally removed the names of fast food chains from their commercials, showed them to young people ages 15-23, and asked them to identify which restaurant chain each commercial represented. Even after controlling for the total amount of time spent watching TV, young people whom correctly identified more than 50% of the restaurants were twice as likely to be obese compared to those whom did not. American Academy of Pediatrics, April 2012
Exercise: Not Enough! On average, Americans spend only about 2 hours each week participating in sports and fitness activities. The CDC recommends adults aged 18-64 get about four hours of physical activity each week by exercising moderately (ex: brisk walk) for 2.5 hours per week and engaging in a vigorous activity, such as running and muscle strengthening, for 1.5 hours per week. American Time Use Study, May 2012
Chiropractic: Did It Move? If there is no “popping” sound accompanying an adjustment, did the joint move? Try this: “Pop” one of your knuckles and notice how far the joint moves. Try again, and even though the joint moves just as far, there is no sound. So, whether a joint “pops” or not does not correlate with if it moved or not. Of course, it is possible that the surrounding muscles are so tight, the joint cannot be moved enough to “pop” that joint.
Wellness/Prevention: Rolling Down The Highway. Heart attack death rates are 27% higher for people living within 100 meters of a major roadway, compared to those who live at least 1,000 meters away. Living close to a highway is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in those with underlying cardiac disease. Besides air pollution, exposure to noise could be a possible mechanism underlying this association.
Circulation, May 2012
Quote: “Perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.” ~ 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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
