Dr Beecher’s December 22 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 22nd, 2014
Mental Attitude: Shift Work Can Impair Brain Functioning. Working shifts, rather than fixed hours, may impair brain function over time. Investigators found that long-term shift work for ten or more years has a negative impact on brain health. The researchers believe that disruption of circadian rhythms is the most likely cause of psychological stressors that lead to impairment. They note that the effects can be reversed, but the process may take up to five years. The research team writes, “The cognitive impairment observed in the present study may have important safety consequences not only for the individuals concerned, but also for society as a whole… given the increasing number of jobs in high-hazard situations that are performed at night.” Occupational & Environmental Medicine, November, 2014
Health Alert: Medicare Penalties Will Hurt Vulnerable Patients with COPD. Experts say that new polices regarding hospital readmissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will penalize at-risk patients. Since 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reduced payments to hospitals that exhibit excessive readmission rates for conditions like heart failure, heart attack, and pneumonia. Recently, they added elective hip and knee replacements and chronic lung disease to this list. Poor or medically complex patients are at a higher risk for readmissions because of an assortment of socioeconomic and health factors. Many are seen at teaching hospitals and “safety-net” hospitals, which will bear the brunt of the new guidelines. The experts explain that no interventions are known to effectively reduce COPD readmissions so it’s unclear what a hospital can do to prevent them. Their findings suggest that the policy should be changed due to penalties that target hospitals that care for vulnerable patients. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, November 2014
Diet: Drink More Water and Less Cola to Avoid Kidney Stone Recurrence. Recently released evidence-based guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommend that patients with a history of kidney stones can help reduce their risk for kidney stone recurrence by increasing their fluid intake so as to produce at least two liters of urine per day and decreasing their cola consumption, the most common dietary source of phosphoric acid. Annals of Internal Medicine, November 2014
Exercise: Fun Physical Activity Helps Young Students. New research reveals that just four minutes of high-intensity interval exercise can improve the behavior of elementary school students. Researchers found that a brief period of in-classroom physical activity led to reduced fidgeting and inattentiveness in the classroom during the following 50 minutes. Nutrition and Metabolism, October 2014
Chiropractic: Smoking Associated with Chronic Back Pain. If you’re a smoker and have low back pain, here’s another reason to kick the habit. A new study has found that people who smoke are three times more likely to develop chronic back pain than those who do not smoke. Using MRI, researchers observed that smoking increases brain activity in an area of the brain that has previously been associated with chronic pain development. Bottom line, in addition to seeking care to treat their back pain, smokers with chronic pain should also engage in a smoking cessation program. Human Brain Mapping, October 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Pro-Inflammatory Diet Increases Prostate Cancer Risk. Using data provided by about 2,700 adult Italian males, researchers have linked pro-inflammation diets to increased prostate cancer risk. A pro-inflammatory diet is one that includes high levels of sugar, polysaturated vegetable oils, trans fats, dairy products, feed-lot raised meat, red meat and processed meat, alcohol, refined grains, and artificial food additives. British Journal of Nutrition, November 2014
Quote: “Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination itself could add nothing to them.” ~ Jules Verne
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 21 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 21st, 2014
Mental Attitude: Learning A Second Language Slows Cognitive Decline. New research suggests that speaking more than one language may slow down age-related cognitive decline, even if the second language is learned during adulthood. Research leader Dr. Thomas Bak writes, “These findings are of considerable practical relevance. Millions of people around the world acquire their second language later in life. Our study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may benefit the aging brain.” Annals of Neurology, June 2014
Health Alert: Smoking & Passive Smoking Cause Hearing Loss. Smokers are 15.1% more likely to develop hearing loss compared with non-smokers and passive smokers (those regularly exposed to second-hand smoke). Moreover, passive smokers were found to be 28% more likely to develop hearing loss than non-smokers. Lead researcher Dr. Piers Dawes adds, “We are not sure if toxins in tobacco smoke affect hearing directly, or whether smoking-related cardiovascular disease causes microvascular changes that impact on hearing, or both.”
Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, May 2014
Diet: Green Tea Component Disrupts Cancer Cell Metabolism. Researchers have discovered how an active component of green tea called epigallocatechen gallate (EGCG) disrupts the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells. They found that ECGC suppresses the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, a critical enzyme in cancer cell metabolism. This finding adds to numerous previous studies that have suggested green tea and its extracts may provide suitable treatment
for cancer. Metabolomics, April 2014
Exercise: Quality of Exercise More Important Than Quantity. Scientists say that to lose weight and maintain optimal health and fitness, the quality of your exercise routine matters more than quantity. This new study suggests greater benefits can be attained from a multi-dimensional exercise program that includes resistance exercise, interval sprint exercise, stretching, and endurance exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, May 2014
Chiropractic: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Case Study. A patient with shoulder impingement syndrome underwent chiropractic treatment that included soft tissue therapy, phonophoresis, manipulation, and shoulder exercises. At the end of treatment, the patient was symptom-free with a return to normal of shoulder range of motion and daily activities, including sports-related activities. This case report shows the potential benefit of chiropractic care in resolving symptoms associated with shoulder impingement syndrome. Journal of Physiological Therapeutics, November 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Hospital Drops Obstetric Malpractice Claims By 50%! With a rise in malpractice lawsuits pushing many doctors out of practice and deterring young doctors from pursuing obstetrics, a Connecticut hospital
initiated a series of changes to help curb malpractice claims. By standardizing care, learning and practicing new teamwork
protocols, and enhancing oversight of clinical work, the hospital reduced claims by 50% and cut payments for liability
claims from $50 million to $3 million. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, June 2014
Quote: “Keep your best wishes close to your heart and watch what happens.” ~ Tony DeLiso
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 24 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY NEWS HEALTH UPDATE
Monday, December 24th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Bad Day? Researchers found that adding just a couple extra minutes of exercise to your daily exercise routine can significantly increase your outlook on life. Penn State, October 2012
Health Alert: ‘Smoke-Free’ Laws! Laws that ended smoking at work and public places have resulted in lowered hospitalizations for heart attacks by 15%, strokes by 16%, and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 24%. It has reduced health care costs and also increased quality of life. Circulation, November 2012
Diet: Soda Consumption and Knee Osteoarthritis. After controlling for risk factors for knee osteoarthritis (obesity, age, prior knee injury, extreme stress to joints, and family history), men who drank sugary soft drinks experienced worse knee osteoarthritis progression than those who did not. This correlation was not apparent in women. American College of Rheumatology, November 2012
Exercise: Increased Life Expectancy! Low amounts of physical activity (75 minutes of brisk walking per week) increased longevity by 1.8 years after age 40, compared with doing no such activity. Walking briskly for at least 450 minutes a week was associated with a gain of 4.5 years. PLOS Medicine, November 2012
Chiropractic: Now That’s Fast! Your brain sends electric messages at 270 mph to every muscle and organ in your body. Guyton’s Physiology
Wellness/Prevention: High Blood Pressure and The Brain! A recent study found evidence of structural damage in the brains of hypertensive and pre-hypertensive people in their 30s and 40s. This sort of damage to the brain has been linked to cognitive decline in older people. According to Dr. Charles DeCarli, professor of neurology and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at UC Davis, “The message here is really clear: people can influence their late-life brain health by knowing and treating their blood pressure at a young age, when you wouldn’t necessarily be thinking about it.” The Lancet, November 2012
Quote: “The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” ~ Anthony Robbins
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 .
