Dr Beecher’s April 6 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter , please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, April 6th, 2015
Mental Attitude: 7% of Children Worldwide Have ADHD. Data from 175 published studies conducted over four decades indicates that about 7% of kids worldwide have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD tend to be inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive and this disorder can cause them to struggle both academically and socially. These findings may help health officials determine if ADHD is over or under diagnosed in their country, state, or community. Pediatrics, April 2015
Health Alert: Acetaminophen Risks May Be Underestimated. A new study suggests that the risks of using acetaminophen may be underestimated by doctors. A systematic review of eight studies investigated the association between acetaminophen use and adverse health effects. One study found an increased rate of mortality among individuals who had been prescribed acetaminophen compared with those who had not. Four of the studies found an elevated risk of adverse cardiovascular and renal events linked to acetaminophen use, and one study found a link to gastrointestinal events. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, March 2015
Diet: Eat Peanuts Early in Childhood to Avoid Allergy? For years, parents have been advised to avoid giving foods that contain peanuts to their babies as it may trigger an allergy. Now, a new groundbreaking study suggests that the opposite is true. Researchers claim that feeding babies food containing peanuts before their first birthday may actually prevent the onset of peanut allergies. They found that around 3% of children who ate peanut butter or peanut snacks before their first birthday developed an allergy, compared with 17% of children who didn’t eat such foods during infancy. New England Journal of Medicine, February 2015
Exercise: Kids More Likely to Exercise When Friends Do. Friends appear to play a significant role in youngsters’ levels of physical activity. In a new study, over one-hundred children and teens were asked to rank benefits and barriers to physical activity. The findings revealed that those who did physical activities with a friend were less likely to cite barriers to not exercising, while family participation or encouragement failed to have the same effect. Study author Dr. Jessica Graus Woo notes, “We speculate that the social network of friendships is increasingly important in influencing behaviors as children get older… Having physically active friends may make it easier for obese children to get involved with activities and lower the perceived barriers for doing so, while having a physically active family may not be as inspiring.” American Heart Association, March 2015
Chiropractic: Women Benefit from Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy. Chiropractors often provide treatment for women during pregnancy to ease pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain. A recent study published in the journal Chiropractic & Manual Therapies followed 115 pregnant women who sough out chiropractic care and found that 52% reported significant improvements in their pain after just one week of treatment. After one month, the researchers note that more than 70% of the expectant mothers in the study achieved clinically significant improvements in pain based on outcome assessments. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, February 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Over a Billion Young Adults at Risk of Hearing Loss. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over one-billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe levels of sound. The risk is primarily due to exposure to high levels of recreational noise from personal audio devices and loud entertainment venues. The WHO recommends restricting the use of personal audio devices to less than 60 minutes per day. Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO director for the Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence, and Injury Prevention writes, “[Adolescents and young adults] should be aware that once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back. Taking simple preventive actions will allow people to continue to enjoy themselves without putting their hearing at risk.” World Health Organization, March 2015
Quote: “The best revenge is massive success.” ~ Frank Sinatra
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 16 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter , please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 16th, 2015
Mental Attitude: Does Alzheimer’s Disease Affect Diabetics Differently? In an eighteen-month study, researchers explored whether or not Alzheimer’s disease affected patients with diabetes differently than non-diabetics. While they did not detect much difference in cognitive decline between the groups, functional decline was more pronounced in patients with both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical Therapeutics, February 2015
Health Alert: Lyme Disease More Widespread Than Believed. According to a new report, prolonged illness in Americans with Lyme disease is more prevalent, serious, and costly than previously thought. Investigators found Lyme disease patients are nearly five times more likely to have post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome-related symptoms such as fatigue, nerve pain, joint pain, and memory and thinking problems. They also found that Lyme disease costs up to $1.3 billion dollars per year to treat. Researcher Dr. Emily Adrion explains, “Regardless of what you call it, our data show that many people who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease are in fact going back to the doctor complaining of persistent symptoms, getting multiple tests and being retreated… it is clear that we need effective, cost-effective, and compassionate management of these patients to improve their outcomes, even if we don’t know what to call the disease.” PLOS ONE, February 2015
Diet: Corn Oil Lowers Cholesterol. A new study claims that corn oil significantly lowers cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. In the study, participants consumed four tablespoons of corn oil or extra virgin olive oil in addition to their normal diet. The results revealed that total cholesterol decreased by 8.2% in the group that consumed corn oil and just 1.8% for extra virgin olive oil group. Corn oil lowered bad cholesterol (LDL) by 10.9% while extra virgin olive oil only lowered LDL by 3.5%. Lead researcher Dr. Kevin C. Maki adds, “These findings add to those from prior research supporting corn oil’s positive heart health benefits, and align with recommendations to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats, such as those found in corn oil.” Journal of Clinical Lipidology, February 2015
Exercise: Exercise During Dialysis Improves Energy in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients. Fatigue is a common complaint by chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis. A small study involving 66 CKD patients found that those who participated in a physical and mental exercise program twice a week for two months experienced significant decreases in fatigue when compared with those who did not participate in such a program. The authors of the study conclude, “With respect to the findings of the study, this method of treatment is recommended due to being cost efficient, easy, applicable, and flexible for alleviating the effect of fatigue on the personal, psychological, and social aspects of life quality in patients on hemodialysis.” Nephro-Urology Monthly, July 2014
Chiropractic: Resolution of Motor Tics & ADHD. A recent case study involved a 10-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who also suffered from involuntary motor tics. A thorough examination revealed cervical dysfunction dating back to at least when the boy was four months old. Chiropractic care focused on adjustments of the first cervical vertebra and mechanical traction. Following the first treatment, the patient exhibited improvements in both behavior and focus and no longer required pharmaceutical management for his ADHD symptoms after two months of care. After ten months of care, the boy experienced a complete resolution of his motor tics. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, November 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Breast Cancer. In a cumulative examination of research done on environmental factors associated with breast cancer, experts recommend the following actions to minimize an individual’s risk: engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity, avoid a high-fat diet, reduce alcohol intake, and be cognizant when taking estrogen and synthetic progestagen hormonal therapy. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, January 2015
Quote: “Don’t write so that you can be understood, write so that you can’t be misunderstood.” ~ William Howard Taft
Dr Beecher’s January 19 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter , please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, January 19th, 2015
Mental Attitude: Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Tobacco Increases ADHD Risk. Children whose mothers drink or smoke during pregnancy are roughly 50-250% more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than children who receive no alcohol or tobacco exposure while in utero. More specifically, if a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy, her child’s risk for ADHD is 1.55 times greater than if she doesn’t drink. If she smokes, her child will have a 2.65-fold greater risk for ADHD. Psychiatry Research, January 2015
Health Alert: Obesity Tied to Half a Million Cancers Worldwide. A new report indicates that obesity is associated with nearly 500,000 new cancer cases worldwide every year, and almost two-thirds of obesity-related cancers occur in North America and Europe. Study leader Dr. Melina Arnold explains, “Our findings add support for a global effort to address the rising trends in obesity. The global prevalence of obesity in adults has doubled since 1980. If this trend continues, it will certainly boost the future burden of cancer, particularly in South America and North Africa, where the largest increases in the rate of obesity have been seen over the last 30 years.” The Lancet Oncology, November 2014
Diet: Calorie Counts Will Be Mandatory for Chain Restaurants. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that new rules under the Affordable Care Act that will require many restaurant chains to post calorie counts on their menu if they have more than 20 locations. While listing calorie counts on menus won’t solve the obesity epidemic, it may help consumers make healthier food choices when they dine out. Food and Drug Administration, November 2014
Exercise: Some Women May Not Benefit from Exercise as Easily as Men. Researchers at the University of Missouri claim that certain exercises that benefit obese men may not benefit obese women. The team found that obese men achieved cardiovascular improvement after aerobic exercise training, while women failed to experience any benefit when measuring heart rate recovery and blood pressure. Researcher Dr. Jill Kanaley adds, “When you exercise, you want your blood pressure to rise, but you don’t want it to get too high. Your blood pressure should return to normal relatively quickly after the end of your workout. In our study, the recovery rate for women was not as rapid as for men. After the men trained, they got an even better recovery time, whereas women’s time stayed about the same.” The research indicates that certain exercises may not be enough for women, and the researchers recommend that healthcare providers keep this in mind when developing targeted exercise interventions for obese women. Metabolism, April 2012
Chiropractic: Resolution of Urinary Incontinence Following Chiropractic Care. A recent case study documented the effectiveness of chiropractic care for a patient suffering from urinary incontinence. The case involved a 63-year-old woman with a recent history of urinary incontinence and spinal pain. She received chiropractic treatment in addition to exercises and traction. During the course of 22 visits, she experienced complete resolution of urinary incontinence, improvements in spinal alignment, and near resolution of spinal pain. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, August 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Americans Not Receiving Dementia Screening. More than 50% of Americans with dementia appear to never have undergone screening of their thinking and memory skills, according to a new study. Dementia affects one in eight people over the age of 65 in the United States and one in three individuals over the age of 80. Despite this rate of dementia, there are no established guidelines for screening. This finding is important as early evaluation and identification of individuals with dementia may help them receive care sooner in the course of the disease. The author of the study adds that with an early diagnosis of dementia, families can watch loved ones for problems, help them with daily tasks, and make plans for care. Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City explains, “Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for maintaining quality of life in this debilitating condition… There are economic benefits to society as well.” Neurology, November 2014
Quote: “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” ~ Walter Cronkite
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 .
