Dr Beecher’s May 4 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
Week of Monday, May 4th, 2015
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Mental Attitude: Family Stress Linked to Obesity in Teens. An analysis of data from over 4,700 teens found that family stress during childhood can put teenagers at an increased risk for being overweight or obese. According to researchers, girls in the study who experienced family stress such as family disruption and financial problems during their early years were more likely to be obese and overweight during their teen years than their peers who were not subjected to such stressors. The researchers also found that boys whose mothers suffered from poor health were more likely to become obese or overweight by late adolescence. Study author Dr. Daphne Hernandez concludes, “This study extends our knowledge of stress and obesity by focusing on the family environment over time. By knowing the types of stressors that influence female and male adolescent weight gain, we can tailor specific social services to be included in obesity prevention programs.” Preventive Medicine, April 2015
Health Alert: Another Reason Not to Get A Sunburn While on Vacation! According to a report from the United Kingdom, today’s seniors are about seven times more likely to develop a potentially deadly form of skin cancer called malignant melanoma than their predecessors from just 40 years ago. Experts speculate that this massive rise in the number of seniors developing this particular form of cancer is most likely a result of sunburns sustained while on vacation during their younger years in pursuit of a good tan. Cancer Research UK, April 2015
Diet: Another Reason to Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables… Chinese researchers analyzed data from fourteen published studies regarding inflammatory bowel disease and found that participants who consumed the most servings of fruits and vegetables per day were 30-40% less likely to be diagnosed with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis when compared with those who consumed the fewest daily servings of produce. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, March 2015
Exercise: Exercise at Any Level Benefits Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. If you are overweight or obese with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a new study suggests that exercise can have significant benefits regardless of amount or intensity. During an eight-week study, researchers found that participants in three different exercise groups with varying levels of intensity all experienced a sizeable reduction in liver fat. Those who participated in a high-intensity, low-volume aerobic exercise or a low-to- moderate intensity, high-volume aerobic exercise experienced the greatest liver and visceral fat reduction. Study leader Dr. Nathan Johnson adds, “The results from our study show that all exercise doses, irrespective of volume or intensity, were efficacious in reducing liver fat and visceral fat by an amount that was clinically significant, in previously inactive overweight or obese adults compared with placebo.” Journal of Hepatology, April 2015
Chiropractic: What Causes Osteoarthritis? In the past, osteoarthritis (OA) was believed to be a wear and tear disease that affects the articular cartilage covering the ends of bones where they meet to form joints. New research shows OA to be a rather complex degenerative disease that may be caused by low-grade inflammation in the cartilage and the surrounding soft tissues that results in deterioration of the cartilage and a compromised joint structure. Although some risk factors for OA cannot be avoided (such as genetics, sex, and age), others are wholly in control of the patient. Controllable factors include: improperly treated sports injuries, lack of physical exercise, and overweight or obese body weight status. International Journal of Molecular Science, March 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Images on Cigarette Packs Educate Young Adults About Smoking Dangers. The results of two new studies indicate that young adults gain a much greater appreciation for the health consequences related to smoking when warning texts about the dangers of cigarette use are accompanied by graphic illustrations. Study author Dr. Renee E. Magnan explains, “Although this is a preliminary investigation, from a policy perspective, these outcomes suggest that focusing on deriving greater understanding and knowledge from such labels may have more impact in terms of both motivational and emotional responses. Importantly, however, these labels are only a small piece of what should be a larger campaign to educate the public on the dangers of smoking.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, April 2015
Quote: “Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.” ~ Louis L’Amour
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 February 2 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, February 2nd, 2015
Mental Attitude: Learning to Play Music Improves Kids’ Brains. MRI scans of children who received musical training showed greater thickness in the areas of the brain that influence working memory, self-control, organization, and planning for the future. The research team claims their findings “underscore the vital importance of finding new and innovative ways to make music training more widely available to youths, beginning in childhood.”
Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, December 2014
Health Alert: Cancer Death Rates in the US Continue to Drop. Death rates from cancer in the United States (US) continue to fall (down 22% since a peak in 1991), according to the annual report from the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS argues that continuing the fight against cancer across all segments of the population could lead to even greater reduction in cancer related deaths. Dr. John R. Seffrin, the CEO of ACS adds, “The change may be inevitable, but we can still lessen cancer’s deadly impact by making sure as many Americans as possible have access to the best tools to prevent, detect, and treat cancer.” American Cancer Society, January 2015
Diet: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies! A 24-year study including 9,112 Japanese men and women found that those who ate the most servings of fruits and vegetables each day had a 24% lower risk for total cardiovascular disease, a 20% lower risk for stroke, and a 43% lower risk for coronary heart disease when compared with their peers who ate the fewest daily servings of fruits and vegetables. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2015
Exercise: Daily Physical Activity Helps Maintain Vascular Health. Researchers have found that reducing daily physical activity for even a few days can lead to decreased function in the inner lining of blood vessels in the legs of healthy, young individuals. However, their work demonstrates that it’s possible to start the repair process by walking at least 10,000 steps a day. Study co-author Dr. Paul Fadel adds, “The best treatment is to become more active, and our research lends proof to that concept. If you do not realize how harmful sitting around all day and not doing any activity is to your health, this proves it.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, December 2014
Chiropractic: Lumbar Manipulation & Exercise for Knee Pain? A new case study supports the use of lumbar spinal manipulation for anterior knee pain and quadriceps weakness. A 20-year-old man who underwent ACL reconstruction of the left knee with continued knee pain and quadriceps weakness presented for chiropractic care. He was prescribed exercises to improve his quadriceps strength and received side-lying rotational spinal manipulation. After a course of eight weekly treatments, he returned to pain-free participation in recreational sports. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, December 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Water Coolers at School Encourage Students to Drink More. When water dispensers were installed in a few New York City schools, students drank three times more water at lunchtime than students at schools that did not install water coolers in their lunch rooms. Researchers found that 80% of students noticed the water dispensers, two-thirds of those who noticed them actually used them, and 50% who noticed the coolers actually drank more water at lunchtime. Officials plan to install water dispensers in over 1,000 New York City public schools. American Journal of Public Health, December 2014
Quote: “It is better to be alone than in bad company.” ~ George Washington
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 .
