Dr Beecher’s August 4 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 4th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Two Explanations for the Link Between Stress & Heart Attack. Scientists may have a better understanding of why ongoing stress raises an individual’s risk of having a heart attack. They believe stress triggers the body to make extra disease- fighting white blood cells, and this can cause inflammation in the arteries of people with a condition called atherosclerosis, where the artery walls are thickened by a buildup of plaque. Other studies suggest that stress causes blood to clot differently. Both factors can lead to reduced blood flow to the heart. Nature Medicine, June 2014
Health Alert: Numbing Medications Can Be Harmful to Teething Babies. Teething infants can be seriously harmed or even die from certain “gum-numbing” medications, according to a new warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA states that local anesthetics known as viscous lidocaine and benzocaine-containing teething products should never be used for teething children, except under the advice and supervision of a health care professional. Viscous lidocaine requires a prescription, and it is typically used to treat mouth ulcers in chemotherapy patients. Parents who have viscous lidocaine on hand should not use it on teething infants. The FDA notes that it received 22 reports of serious incidents thus far in 2014, including deaths, linked to use of viscous lidocaine in babies and toddlers under three and a half years of age. The FDA also advises that over-the-counter benzocaine products, such as Anbesol and Baby Orajel, should not be used for children younger than age two. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, June 2014
Diet: Gluten-Free Diet Helps Celiac Patients with “Brain Fog”. Poor memory, difficulty thinking clearly, difficulty finding the right word, and poor concentration — often referred to as “Brain fog” — are often experienced by celiac disease patients. A new study suggests that adopting a gluten-free diet seems to improve these symptoms as the intestines heal. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye that causes intestinal inflammation. Scientists found that when celiac patients removed gluten from their diet, they scored better for attention, memory, and other functions on assessment tests. Study author Dr. Greg Yelland adds, “Maintaining a gluten-free diet is essential not only for [celiac patients’] physical well-being, but for mental well-being also.” Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, June 2014
Exercise: Improve Your Workout By Exercising with Someone More Fit Than You. Researchers from Kansas State University claim that individuals who exercise with a teammate or partner whom they perceive to be in better shape increased their workout time and intensity by as much as 200%. The research team found that partners who exercise at a level 40% greater are ideal for long-term motivation while they observed motivation levels declined when partners exercised at either the same or vastly superior levels. Kansas State University, June 2014
Chiropractic: Back Pain and Athletes. A new study indicates that two out of three teen athletes will experience an episode of back pain during their lifetime. Current research estimates the prevalence rate of back pain for the general population to be over 80%, or at least 14 percentage points higher than teen athletes can expect. International Journal of Sports Medicine, July 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Should Be a Family Value. Previous research shows that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for both childhood and adult obesity. A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that if parents don’t get enough sleep, their children don’t tend to either. They recommend that in order to reduce the risk of childhood obesity, parents should ensure their children get at least ten hours of sleep per night and that they get at least seven hours themselves. Preventing Chronic Disease, June 2014
Quote: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” ~ Will Rogers
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 June 23 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, June 23rd, 2014
Mental Attitude: ADHD Kids Often Suffer from Family Issues. A new report reveals that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to come from a family background of poverty, divorce, community violence, and substance abuse. Study author Dr. Nicole Brown adds, “Knowledge about the prevalence and types of adverse experiences among children diagnosed with ADHD may guide efforts to address trauma in this population and improve ADHD screening, diagnostic accuracy and management.” American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2013
Health Alert: Global Nutrition Threatened by Rising CO2 Levels. If rising carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations reach expected levels by 2050, researchers warn that global crops may have reduced nutritional levels of iron and zinc. If these nutrients are reduced, it may represent a significant health threat to the entire world population. Lead author Samuel Myers explains, “Humanity is conducting a global experiment by rapidly altering the environmental conditions on the only habitable planet we know. As this experiment unfolds, there will undoubtedly be many surprises. Finding out that rising CO2 threatens human nutrition is one such surprise.” Nature, May 2014
Diet: A Gluten-Free Diet During Pregnancy May Protect Offspring Against Type 1 Diabetes. An animal study in Denmark has found that expectant rodents experienced a change in intestinal bacteria when fed a gluten-free diet. This change in intestinal bacteria appears to offer a protective effect against development of type 1 diabetes for both mother and offspring. Researchers are optimistic that these finding can be applied to humans. Diabetes, April 2014
Exercise: Not Enough Disabled People Exercise. Approximately one-half of the 21 million Americans with a disability do not exercise, which unfortunately jeopardizes their health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ileana Arias, principal deputy director at the CDC, adds, “We are very concerned about this, because working-age adults with disabilities who get no aerobic physical activity are 50 percent more likely to have cancer, diabetes, stroke, or heart disease than those who get the recommended amount of physical activity.” Physical disabilities can be a significant barrier to exercise, but experts explain that depending on the disability, exercise options can include aquatic exercise, chair yoga, Tai Chi, wall push- ups, balance exercises, and gym ball exercises. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2014
Chiropractic: Heavy School Bags Contribute to Musculoskeletal Pain in Children. A study of 532 Ugandan youths reveals that 35.4% of their musculoskeletal pain is associated with the weight of their schoolbags. Researchers recommend having lockers available to avoid long-term back pain issues among students. BMC Research Notes, April 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Breast Feeding Encourages Gut Bacteria in Children. A study that tracked over 300 children during their first three years of life found that breastfeeding for longer periods encouraged beneficial bacteria to flourish in their digestive tracts. Senior author Tine Rask Licht concludes, “We have become increasingly aware of how crucially important a healthy gut microbial population is for a well-functioning immune system. Babies are born without bacteria in the gut, and so it is interesting to identify the influence dietary factors have on gut microbiota development in children’s first three years of life.” Applied Environmental Microbiology, May 2014
Quote: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” ~ Stephen King
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 September 9 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 9th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Feeling Left Out? People who feel isolated are more inclined to make riskier financial decisions for bigger payoffs. The more often people felt excluded, the more they chose the longer odds for bigger lottery payoffs, took greater risks with their finances, bet on horse races, and gambled in casinos. In the absence of social support, forlorn consumers place more value on the power of money to secure what they want socially.
American Psychological Association, August 2013
Health Alert: Gluten-Free? The Food and Drug Administration explained that a new regulation regarding “gluten-free” foods is aimed at helping in the voluntary labeling of food products. Three million Americans have celiac disease. People with celiac disease have to avoid eating foods containing gluten, otherwise the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, affecting the proper absorption of vital nutrients into the bloodstream. For a food to be labeled as gluten-free, it must contain no more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Patients with celiac disease can tolerate this trace amount without experiencing adverse health effects. Food and Drug Administration, August 2013
Diet: Grape News! Compared to people who don’t eat grapes, consumers of fresh grapes (including raisins and 100% grape juice) eat more whole fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, dietary fiber, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. They also had lower intakes of added sugars, total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Journal of Food Science, August 2013
Exercise: Moderate Exercise Does Not Worsen Fibromyalgia Pain. While fibromyaglia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskelatal pain, moderate exercise (such as a brisk walk or light jog) for 20 minutes per day can actually help patients over the long term by improving sleep quality, decreasing fatigue, and decreasing pain levels.
Arthritis Care & Research, July 2013
Chiropractic: Meet The Average Patient. After a 2005 survey of over 200 chiropractic practices, researchers revealed the average chiropractic patient is a 44-46 year old female with back pain. Back pain accounted for 41-46% of chief complaints with other common complaints including neck pain and headaches. The average patient either sought out care on her own (self-referral) or was referred by a friend, family member, or acquaintance.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, November-December 2005
Wellness/Prevention: Pregnancy Food Risk! Laboratory tests on rats found that pregnant females who ate too many fatty and sugary foods while pregnant produced offspring that exhibited hyperactivity and stronger responses to alcohol and commonly abused drugs, like amphetamines. American Psychological Association, August 2013
Quote: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” ~ Greek proverb
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 .
