Dr Beecher’s September 8 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 8th, 2014
Mental Attitude: High Blood Pressure in Middle Age May Weaken Brain Later. If you let your blood pressure get too high in midlife, you may pay the price of mental decline when you are older. A study involving nearly 14,000 individuals found that hypertension in those aged 48 to 67 years was tied to a 6.5% drop in mental ability 20 years later.
JAMA Neurology, August 2014
Health Alert: Low Income People with Diabetes More Likely to Lose a Limb. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found that the odds of having a limb amputated are up to ten times greater for diabetics who live in low- income neighborhoods. The authors of the study note that the majority of these amputations are preventable if these patients are diagnosed and receive proper medical care sooner. University of California, Los Angeles, August 2014
Diet: Chili Peppers May Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Capsaicin, the active ingredient found in chili peppers, may help reduce colorectal cancer risk. An animal study showed that capsaicin activated a pain receptor in mice that reduced tumor development in the gut and extended the lives of test subjects by more than 30%. Further research is needed to determine if capsaicin produces similar benefits among humans. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, August 2014
Exercise: Survival More Likely with Exercise-Related Cardiac Events. According to new research, individuals who have a cardiac arrest during or shortly after exercise are three times more likely to survive (45% survival rate) compared with those who have a cardiac arrest that is not related to exercise (15% survival rate). Lead author Dr. Arend Mosterd writes, “More research is needed to determine why, after taking into account favorable factors such as age, location of the event and initiation of CPR, persons who exercise during or shortly before having a cardiac arrest still have a better prognosis than people who have a cardiac arrest that is unrelated to exercise.” European Society of Cardiology, August 2012
Chiropractic: High Satisfaction. Using survey responses from nearly 500 patients from chiropractic clinics throughout Australia, researchers found that nearly all patients (97.5%) were satisfied with their care and would seek chiropractic services again in the future. About seven out of ten (68.7%) sought chiropractic care for a musculoskeletal injury and 21.2% did so for general health purposes. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, May 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Older Women May Benefit from Mammograms. The results of a new study indicate that women who are age 75 and older may still benefit from routine mammograms; however, not all experts agree with this finding. Guidelines from organizations such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force claim there isn’t enough evidence on routine mammograms for older women while the American Cancer Society recommends that women continue to have mammograms annually as long as they remain in good health. The study found that breast cancer survival was about 10% better in women over 75 years old whose cancer was detected early during a routine mammogram versus those whose cancer was detected later. Radiology, August 2014
Quote: “To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.”
~ Tony Dorsett
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 August 19 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 19th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Optimism and Stress. A six-year study of 135 older adults (>60 years old) found that pessimistic people have a higher baseline level of stress and have a more difficult time handling stress than their more optimistic peers. Health Psychology, May 2013
Health Alert: Decrease Your Heart Disease Risk. High blood pressure affects 33% of U.S. adults and doubles their risk for heart disease. 32 million Americans have dangerously high total blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or greater. Simultaneously controlling your high blood pressure and high cholesterol may cut your risk for heart disease by half or more. Circulation, July 2013
Diet: Don’t Skip Breakfast! A 16-year study of nearly 27,000 male health care professionals found that those who skipped breakfast were 27% more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease. Circulation, May 2013
Exercise: Does Eliminating Video Games Increase Physical Activity? A three year study of Australian pre- teens replaced sedentary video games (played with a gamepad/joystick) with either active video games that require physical movement or no video games at all to see if either increased daily moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and/or decreased sedentary time. When the study concluded, researchers did not find a significant change in either the children’s MVPA (+3.2 minutes/day for active games and +3.8 minutes/day for no games) or sedentary time (-6.2 minutes/day for active games and -4.7 minutes/day for no games).
British Medical Journal Open, July 2013
Chiropractic: Chiropractic Training. What does it take to become a Doctor of Chiropractic? In most countries, chiropractors must complete a minimum of 6 years of college and post-graduate studies (the average is 7 years) to earn their degree. Their education includes at least 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. Then, graduates must pass National and/or State Board examinations and become licensed by the state or province before they can practice. World Health Organization, 2005
Wellness/Prevention: Dad’s Lifestyle Choices? Germ cells are sperm and egg cells and their precursors. Mutations to a father’s germ cells caused by lifestyle choices (like smoking) are present in all the cells of his progeny. These mutations are also present in his children’s own germ cells. This means that a father’s lifestyle has the potential to affect the DNA of multiple generations and not just his immediate offspring.
The FASEB Journal, July 2013
Quote: “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” ~ Hippocrates
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 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 December 24 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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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 .
Dr Beecher’s October 22 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 22nd, 2012
Mental Attitude: Don’t Choke! For many skilled athletes, the movements they execute in an athletic event have been practiced so much, they occur with little conscious thought. However, when athletes don’t perform well under pressure, they may focus too much on their movements which causes their performance to decrease even more.
Right handed athletes who squeezed a ball in their left hand before an athletic event were more able to perform under pressure. It’s thought that clenching with the left hand helps activate the right side of the brain that is associated with
automated behaviors, such as those used by athletes to dribble, kick, shoot, swing, etc.
American Psychological Association, September 2012
Health Alert: Improper Rinsing? The improper use of neti pots, as well as other devices for rinsing out the
sinuses, has been linked to a higher risk of infection. The FDA warns that if they are not used properly, the user runs a risk of developing serious infections, even potentially fatal ones. The devices are safe and useful overall, as long as they are properly used and cleaned. FDA, September 2012
Diet: Why Some Fats May Be Bad. Some fats (like animal fats) are linked to ailments like heart disease and diabetes while others (like those from fish, plants, and nuts) have health benefits. Why the difference? The results of one study suggest that some fats encourage the growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive system. Our bodies recognize those fats and launch an immune response. The result is low-level inflammation that, over the long term, causes chronic disease. Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2012
Exercise: Get Fit Dad! According to a team of experts at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Zoology, a father’s obesity negatively impacts sperm, which results in smaller fetuses, poor pregnancy success, and decreased placental development. Society for Reproductive Biology, August 2012
Chiropractic: What Causes Pain? One possibility is ligaments or tendons being slightly torn or under physical stress or tension. These tissues can easily become damaged due to injury or long periods (weeks, months, or years) of overwork. Physical Exam Spine and Extremities, Hoppenfeld
Wellness/Prevention: Healthy Lifestyle. According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is the leading cause of mortality in the world, responsible for 7 million deaths a year (15% of all deaths). Healthy behaviors regarding alcohol, physical activity, vegetable intake, and body weight reduce the risk of hypertension by two thirds. Having two healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of hypertension by 50% in men and 30% in women.
National Institute for Health and Welfare, September 2012
Quote: “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” ~ 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 .
