Low Back Pain – Is it on the Rise?
Clear Lake City Chiropractor: As stated last month, the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is REALLY high! In fact, it’s the second most common cause of disability among adults in the United States (US) and a very common reason for lost days at work. The total cost of back pain in the US, including treatment and lost productivity, ranges between $100 billion to $200 billion a year! Is low back pain on the rise, staying the same, or lessening? Let’s take a look!
In the past two decades, the use of health care services for chronic LBP (that means LBP > 3 months) has substantially increased. When reviewing studies reporting insurance claims information, researchers note a significant increase in the use of spinal injections, surgery, and narcotic prescriptions. There has been an increase in the use of spinal manipulation by chiropractors as well, along with increased physical therapy services and primary care physician driven non-narcotic prescriptions. In general, LBP sufferers who are chronic (vs. acute) are the group using most of these services and incurring the majority of costs. The reported utilization of the above mentioned services was only 3.9% in 1992 compared to 10.2% in 2006, just 11 years later. The question now becomes, why is this? Possible reasons for this increase health care use in chronic LBP sufferers may be: 1) There are simply more people suffering from chronic LBP; 2) More chronic LBP patients are deciding to seek care or treatment where previously they “just accepted and lived with it” and didn’t pursue treatment; or, 3) A combination of these factors. Regardless of which of the above three is most accurate, the most important issue is, what can we do to help chronic back pain sufferers?
As we’ve discussed in the past, an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise within YOUR personal tolerance level, not smoking, getting enough sleep, and obtaining chiropractic adjustments every two weeks are well documented methods of “controlling” chronic LBP (as there really ISN’T a “cure” in many cases). You may be surprised to hear that maintenance care has good literature support for controlling chronic LBP. In the 8/15/11 issue of SPINE (Vol. 36, No. 18, pp1427-1437), two Medical Doctors (MDs) penned the article, “Does Maintained Spinal Manipulation Therapy for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Result in Better Long-Term Outcomes?” Here, they took 60 patients with chronic LBP (cLBP) and randomly assigned them into one of three groups: 1) 12 treatments of sham (fake) SMT (spinal manipulation) have over a one month period; 2) 12 treatments, over a one month period but no treatment for the following nine months; or 3) 12 treatments for one month AND then SMT every two weeks for the following nine months. To measure the differences between the three groups, they measured pain, disability, generic health status, and back-specific patient satisfaction at baseline, 1-, 4-, 7-, and 10-month time intervals. They found only the patients in the second and third groups experienced significantly lower pain and disability scores vs. the first group after the first month of treatments (at three times a week). BUT, only the third group showed more improvement at the 10-month evaluation. Also, by the tenth month, the pain and disability scores returned back to nearly the initial baseline/initial level in group two. The authors concluded that, “To obtain long-term benefit, this study suggests maintenance SM after the initial intensive manipulative therapy.” Other studies have reported fewer medical tests, lower costs, fewer doctor visits, less work absenteeism, and a higher quality of life when maintenance chiropractic visits are utilized. The question is, WHEN will insurance companies and general practitioners start RECOMMENDING chiropractic maintenance care for chronic LBP patients?
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services. . Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please e-mail them to [email protected] .
Dr Beecher’s November 25 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, November 25th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Einstein’s Brain. The left and right hemispheres of Albert Einstein’s brain were unusually well connected to one another, which may have contributed to his brilliance. This study is the first to detail Einstein’s corpus callosum, the brain’s largest bundle of fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication. Brain, October 2013
Health Alert: Death in Boom Times? Historically, when economies expand, death rates increase for both middle-aged and older people; however, when economies head for recession, the death rates among these groups decrease. For every
1% point increase in GDP, death rates appear to rise by 0.36% among older people, and by 0.38% among the middle- aged. Two popular explanations include: 1) During recessions, unemployed people reduce alcohol consumption, resulting in fewer road accidents. 2) Job stress and air pollution are known to increase when economies grow.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, October 2013
Diet: More Reasons to Eat Broccoli and Cauliflower! Sulforaphane (found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and collards) may help reduce the risk of respiratory inflammation that leads to chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a study setting, researchers found that those who consumed 200 grams of broccoli had nearly three times as many antioxidant enzymes in their upper airway cells compared to baseline measurements. These protective antioxidant enzymes help fight against common environmental pollutants. Clinical Immunology, March 2009
Exercise: Better Math, English, and Science Grades! Research on British school children has found a link between academic performance and daily exercise. English, math, and science scores went up as the number of minutes per day of exercise increased with the greatest gains in female science scores. With boys and girls only exercising 18-29 minutes per day on average, how much could grades improve if physical education hours were increased instead of cut back to save money? British Journal of Sports Medicine, October 2013
Chiropractic: Lack of Motion and the Heart and Lungs. The negative effects of immobilization (lack of proper motion) begin as soon as four hours after injury! The direct effects of deconditioning on the cardiopulmonary system (heart & lungs) include an increase of the maximal heart rate and a decrease in your maximal oxygen consumption potential. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1992
Wellness/Prevention: Kids Need Regular Bedtimes. A study of 10,000 children in the United Kingdom found that children with inconsistent bedtimes are more likely to suffer from behavioral and emotional problems than their peers who go to sleep at the same time every night. The good news is that the effects are reversible once children settle into a regular bedtime. Pediatrics, October 2013
Quote: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut
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 October 28 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 21st, 2013
Mental Attitude: Video Games are Good! Scientists have developed a video game-based training strategy called NeuroRacer that could “repair” cognitive decline in older individuals. The 3D video game challenges cognitive control by providing a series of distractions on the screen that the players must try to avoid while driving. After playing the game, the study participants showed a dramatic increase in their multi-tasking abilities. These improved abilities continued to last for six months without any “booster” training on the game. EEG scans showed increased measurements in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, the area responsible for problem solving and complex thought. Nature, September 2013
Health Alert: Young Adults and Stroke. Hospital discharges in the United States for strokes among young adults (15-44 years old) increased at least 23% from 1996 to 2008. Lifestyle risk factors for stroke include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels. Neurology, September 2013
Diet: Vitamin D Deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteomalacia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and risk of fracture. Emerging evidence also points to increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Good sources of vitamin D include sunlight, cod liver oil, salmon, mushrooms, mackerel, tuna fish, milk, orange juice, and supplements. British Journal of Nutrition, September 2013
Exercise: Obesity and Post Heart Attack Mortality. A study of French heart attack survivors found that obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m²) is associated with the largest risk of absolute mortality five years later (+65%).
European Society of Cardiology, August 2013
Chiropractic: Every Inch! For every inch your head is forward, your upper back and neck muscles have to hold an extra 10 lbs (~4.5 kg), as they have to work harder to keep the head (chin) from dropping to your chest. This also forces the sub-occipital muscles (they raise the chin) to remain in constant contraction, putting pressure on the three sub-occipital nerves. This nerve compression may cause headaches at the base of the skull or mimic sinus (frontal) headaches. Kapandji, Physiology of the Joints, Volume III
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep and Your Brain. Sleep increases the reproduction of the cells (oligodendrocytes) that form myelin. Myelin is the insulating material found on nerve cell projections in the brain and spinal cord that’s responsible for allowing electrical impulses to move from cell to cell, similar to the insulation around electrical wires. University of Wisconsin, September 2013
Quote: “To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” ~ Aristotle
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 October 14 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 14th, 2013
Mental Attitude: The Brain and Learning a Second Language. Learning a second language requires the brain to create and strengthen new neural connections in the brain’s inferior frontal cortex. This is similar to the structural changes seen in people learning complex motor skills, such as juggling.
Montreal Neurological Institute, September 2013
Health Alert: Obesity in the United States. 78 million adults and 13 million kids are obese in the Unites States (US), with the total number increasing to 113 million by 2022. 60-70% of the US population is either overweight or obese, putting them at risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
American Heart Association, September 2013
Diet: Vitamins and Violence. Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, K, B1, B3, B6, B12 and folate, and of minerals iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, chromium and manganese can all contribute to mental instability and violent behavior. Sylvia Onusic, PhD, April 2013
Exercise: Watch Your Step! When exercising, the force centered on your ankle can exceed up to seven times your body weight. 23,000 people sprain their ankle every day in the United States, resulting in 1.6 million doctor office visits annually. The direct and indirect costs (e.g., lost days from work) associated with treating ankle sprains exceed
$1.1 billion annually. To make matters worse, these numbers do not take into account the long-term disability often associated with ankle sprains. Overweight athletes with a prior history of ankle sprain are 19 times more likely to
suffer another ankle sprain. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, February 2011
Chiropractic: Increased Productivity! A small, one-year study of office workers with neck and upper extremity pain found that chiropractic care combined with improved workstation ergonomics resulted in decreased pain, increased quality of life, and up to 100% increased productivity. Work, September 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Obesity Microbes? New research suggests changing the mix of gut microbes can prevent obesity, but only if combined with a healthy diet. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables encourages leanness- related microbes to populate the gut leading to better weight control. However, a diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables thwarts the invasion of microbes associated with leanness. Science, September 2013
Quote: “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”
~ Zig Ziglar
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 July 22nd Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 22nd, 2013
Mental Attitude: Obsessed With Forbidden Pleasures. When individuals are forbidden from everyday objects, their minds and brains pay more attention to them. Obsession is not as strong if others are also denied. When an object is forbidden to a group, the allure of the object drops dramatically. This helps to explain why group diet programs can be more successful than dieting alone. Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, June 2013
Health Alert: Kids Poisoned. Every 10 minutes a child in the United States is taken to the Emergency Room because of poisoning from swallowing a prescription or over-the-counter medicine. The most common drugs associated with children’s poisoning include those used to treat diabetes, high cholesterol (statins), pain (opioids), and cardiovascular diseases (beta blockers). Pediatrics, June 2013
Diet: Soda, Illegal Drugs, and Teeth. Drinking large quantities of soda can be as damaging to your teeth (tooth erosion) as methamphetamine and crack cocaine use. Tooth erosion occurs when acid wears away tooth enamel. Without enamel, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked, and discolored. The citric acid present in both regular and diet soda is known to have a high potential for causing tooth erosion. The ingredients used in preparing methamphetamine can include extremely corrosive materials such as battery acid, lantern fuel, and drain cleaner. Crack cocaine is also highly acidic in nature.
General Dentistry, June 2013
Exercise: Quantity Over Frequency? A study of over 2,300 Canadian adults found that those who exercised 150 minutes over just a few days of the week received the same health benefits as those who spread out 150 minutes of exercise over the entire week. Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, June 2013
Chiropractic: Success! A study compared the effectiveness of manual therapy (performed by a Chiropractor), physical therapy (performed by a Physical Therapist), and medical care (delivered by a Medical Physician) for patients with neck pain. The success rate at 7 weeks was twice as high for the manual therapy group (68.3%) compared to the medical care group. Patients receiving manual therapy had fewer absences from work than patients receiving physical therapy or medical care for their neck pain. Manual therapy and physical therapy also resulted in statistically significant less analgesic (pain relief medication) use. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Stress. Among women who reported stress, 40% had psychosomatic symptoms in the form of aches and pain in their muscles and joints, 28% suffered from headaches or migraines, and 28% reported gastrointestinal complaints. University of Gothenburg, June 2013
Quote: “A healthy outside starts from the inside.” ~ Robert Urich
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 May 20 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, May 20th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Dementia Cost! Caring for people with dementia costs $157 billion a year in the United States
(US) — higher than the costs of treating heart disease ($102 billion) and cancer ($77 billion). 75-84% of dementia
costs are for nursing home care and care at home. 14.7% of people in the US aged 71+ years are affected by
dementia. New England Journal of Medicine, April 2013
Health Alert: Heart Drug and Cancer Risk! Amiodarone, a drug used to treat arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats),
may increase cancer risk. People taking a high dose of amiodarone had close to twice the risk of developing cancer
when compared with those taking a low dose of the drug. Cancer, April 2013
Diet: Diet and Exercise. While many experts advise to start eating a more healthy diet before starting an exercise
program, recent research points to doing both at the same time for optimal results. Participants were separated into
four groups: 1) Start exercise program first. 2) Start diet first. 3) Start both diet and exercise at same time. 4) Do
neither. Participants who started eating healthier at the same time they started an exercise routine were more likely to
exercise 150+ minutes a week, eat 5-9 servings of fruits/vegetables daily, and keep calories from saturated fats to
<10% of their daily caloric intake. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, April 2013
Exercise: Computer Exercises For Alzheimer’s Patients. A new technology using computer brain exercises may
help Alzheimer’s patients. The NeuroAD system has patients solve computer exercises ranging from identifying
colors, shapes, and letters to solving memory games. Simultaneously, the very same regions of the patient’s brain
responsible for memory and learning receive electromagnetic stimulation, which reactivates brain cell activity.
Harvard University, April 2013
Chiropractic: Effectiveness Of Chiropractic. 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to manual
therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mainly exercise), or general practitioner care (counseling, education,
and drugs) in a 52-week study. Manual therapy resulted in faster recovery than physiotherapy and general
practitioner care. Total costs of the manual therapy were about one-third of the costs of physiotherapy or general
practitioner care. British Medical Journal, 2003
Wellness/Prevention: Safer Teen Drivers. A new report on teen driver safety in the United States (US) shows
encouraging trends. There has been a 47% decline in teen driver-related fatalities over the past six years. In the past
three years, the number of teen passengers killed in crashes who were not wearing seatbelts decreased 23%, the
number of teens driven by a peer who had been drinking declined 14%, and 30% fewer teen passengers were killed
in crashes involving a teen driver. Despite this progress, auto accidents remain the leading cause of death for US
teens. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, April 2013
Quote: “Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.” ~ Publilius Syrus
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Dr Beecher’s May 13 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
Week of Monday, May 13th, 2013
Mental Attitude: A Later Life Crisis? 32% of males and 33% of females ages 60-69 have experienced a so-called
“later life crisis”. The most common stimuli for these episodes were bereavement, sickness, injury to themselves or
to others, and caring for a sick or disabled loved one. The stressful life event can make the individual aware of their
own frailty and death. Some people react with resilience and set new goals, while others focus more on the present,
trying to enjoy life more than they did before. British Psychological Society, April 2013
Health Alert: Hip/Knee Replacement? Joint damage from osteoarthritis is responsible for 80% of hip replacements
and 90% of knee surgeries. Only 50% of individuals with arthritis who had a hip or knee replacement reported a
significant improvement in pain and mobility after surgery. 25% of patients who get a single joint replacement will
have another within two years. Arthritis & Rheumatism, April 2013
Diet: Unleaded Please! Levels of lead in rice imported into the United States (US) ranged from 6-12 mg/kg. For
adults, the daily exposure levels from eating imported rice are 20-40 times higher than the Food and Drug
Administration’s accepted levels. For infants and children, the daily exposure levels are 30-60 times higher. Lead is a
neurotoxin that can damage the brain, and in young children whose brains are still growing, it can seriously diminish
their capacity to learn and develop. It can disrupt children’s behavior, such as make them more aggressive,
impulsive, and hyperactive. Lead increases blood pressure and causes cardiovascular diseases in adults.
American Chemical Society, April 2013
Exercise: Walking vs. Running. Brisk walking can reduce a person’s risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high
cholesterol just as much as running can. The risk for first-time hypertension was notably reduced 4.2% by running
and 7.2% by walking. The risk for first-time high cholesterol was reduced 4.3% by running and 7% by walking. The
risk for first-time diabetes was lowered 12.1% by running and 12.3% by walking. The risk for coronary heart disease
was lowered 4.5% by running and 9.3% by walking. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, April 2013
Chiropractic: Lowering Blood Pressure. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck were shown to lower high
blood pressure. Researchers found a 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure, and 8 mm Hg greater drop in
diastolic blood pressure following a cervical adjustment. This effect was greater than would result from two blood
pressure medications given in combination, and it was adverse-event free.
Journal of Human Hypertension, March 2007
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D. A hormone produced in the skin with exposure to sunlight, Vitamin D is also
found in fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks. Muscle function and recovery from fatigue has been shown to improve
with Vitamin D supplementation, which is thought to enhance the activity of the mitochondria – the power plants of
the cell. Newcastle University, April 2013
Quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ~ Hippocrates
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Dr Beecher’s March 18 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 18th, 2013
Mental Attitude: When Stress Levels Get Too High. Too much stress can negatively affect the immune system, cardiovascular system, neuroendocrine system, and central nervous system. Untreated chronic (long- term) stress can lead to muscle pain, insomnia, hypertension (high blood pressure), a weaker immune system and anxiety, which can lead to dozens of illnesses, including heart disease, depression, and obesity.
American Psychological Assoc, February 2013
Health Alert: TV Viewing and Risk of Disease. Daily TV viewing and lack of exercise at age 16 is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease by age 43.
Diabetes Care, February 2013
Diet: Heart Disease and Vegetarianism. The risk of hospitalization or death from heart disease is 32% lower in vegetarians than people who eat meat and fish. Researchers found that vegetarians had lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than non-vegetarians. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2013
Exercise: More Reasons. Regular exercise provides protection against injury, decreases the need for antihypertensive medication, and improves your decision-making abilities.
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Deconditioning Syndrome. The negative effects of immobilization (lack of proper motion) begin as soon as four hours after injury! The effects it has on muscles include weakness, lack of coordination, decreased flexibility, reduced oxidative potential, diminished muscle mass, increased connective tissue fibrosis, Type I & II muscle atrophy, and 20% loss of muscle strength per week.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1992
Wellness/Prevention: The Active Lifestyle Approach. Adults who incorporate more movement into their daily lives are 4x more likely to meet the United States Government’s federal fitness guidelines (30 minutes of exercise per day) than those who attempt to do more structured exercise activities like running or lifting weights. American Journal of Health Promotion, February 2013
Quote: “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” ~ Lao Tzu
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 December 3 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 3rd, 2012
Mental Attitude: What You See Is What You Like. After viewing images of successful women with varying body sizes, women who had strongly preferred only thin body types now had more favorable attitudes towards other body shapes. PLoS One, November 2012
Health Alert: Children, Cars and Second-Hand Smoke. Just ten minutes in the back seat of a car with a smoker in the front seat increased a child’s exposure to harmful pollutants by 30%, even with the front windows completely rolled down. British Medical Journal, November 2012
Diet: Cholesterol and Probiotics. Two daily doses (200mg) of a probiotics lowered “bad” (LDL) and total cholesterol in study participants. Probiotics are live microorganisms (naturally occurring bacteria in the gut) thought to have beneficial effects. Common sources are yogurt or dietary supplements. Those taking the probiotics had LDL levels 11.6% lower than those on placebo after nine weeks.
American Heart Association, November 2012
Exercise: Belly Fat and Sleep Quality? Losing weight can directly aid in improving sleep quality among
obese or overweight people. Sleep quality was meaningfully associated with weight loss, either from changes in diet or a healthy diet combined with exercise. Sleep quality improvement was also observed with a loss in belly fat. With an average loss of 15 pounds and 15% belly fat, sleep scores improved by 20%. Chronic sleep disruptions can elevate the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and stroke.
American Heart Association, November 2012
Chiropractic: Spinal Degenerative Joint Disease. Spinal DJD (degenerative joint disease) occurs in most people as early as 40 years of age. The degeneration is due to gravity, major traumas, and repetitive micro- traumas (activities of daily living). Once the spine degenerates, simple mechanical compression (moving) can change nerve impulses, and the central nervous system may interpret that as pain. Pain, 1977
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep and The Immune System. Sleep deprivation increases the risk for developing inflammation related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and diabetes.
Biological Psychiatry, September 2008
Quote: “Never confuse motion with action.” ~ Ben Franklin
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 November 26 Weekly Chiropratic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, November 26th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Sleep? Just one night of inadequate sleep can detrimentally trigger an increase (by as much as
60%) in brain activity related to anticipating negative emotional events. UC Berkeley, October 2012
Health Alert: Stop Smoking! Female smokers in the UK die 10 years earlier (on average) than non-smokers. However, women who stop smoking by age 30 are 97% less likely to suffer a smoking related, premature death. The Lancet, October 2012
Diet: Grapes! Grape consumption is linked to healthier diet habits and higher intake of nutrients. Individuals who consume products made with grapes also have higher intake of the following: dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Grape consumption is associated with higher vegetable, whole grain, seed, and nut intake, as well as a decreased intake of cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat, compared with adults who did not consume grape products. Grapes can assist in lowering blood pressure, strengthen blood flow, and lower inflammation in men suffering from metabolic syndrome.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food, October 2012
Exercise: Yoga. Yoga stretches all of the soft tissues of your body such as ligaments, tendons, and the fascia sheaths that surround your muscles. No matter your level of yoga, you most likely will see benefits in a very short period of time. Yoga participants had 35% improvement in flexibility after only 8 weeks.
American Council on Exercise, October 2012
Chiropractic: Why Wait? The activities of every day living can cause micro-traumas to the musculoskeletal system. While these injuries may not result in pain, if left untreated they may lead to more serious problems such as back or neck pain (for example). Regular adjustments can help prevent these micro-traumas from becoming bigger problems in the future.
Wellness/Prevention: Keep Young Drivers Safe. In May 2010, New Jersey implemented Kyleigh’s Law, requiring all 16-20 year old drivers with a permit or intermediate license to display a reflective decal on the front and back license plates of vehicles they are operating. The decal is intended to help police officers enforce laws specific to younger drivers such as those related to night time driving and the number of permitted passengers. Since going into effect, Kyleigh’s Law has decreased car accidents among 16-20 year old intermediate license holders by 9%. Tips for keeping your young driver safe: “[Start] them out in low-risk conditions. Keep the number of passengers to no more than one, limit nighttime driving to before 10 pm, always prohibit cell phone use while driving, and insist on seat belts for every occupant on every drive.” Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, October 2012
Quote: “Genius defined; of inspiration 1% percent, of perspiration, 99%.” ~ 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 BeecherChiropractic.com .
