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 October 6 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 6th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Differences in Brains of People with Dyslexia. Dyslexia causes problems with reading and writing and is the most commonly diagnosed learning disorder in the United States. Researchers have discovered that people with this condition have disrupted network connections in their brains. Using functional MRI, the research team found that individuals with dyslexia have less connectivity between a number of the brain regions used during the reading process when compared to MRI scans of people without dyslexia. Study author Dr. Emily Finn writes, “Compared to typical readers, dyslexics had weaker connections between areas that process visual information and areas that control attention, suggesting that individuals with dyslexia are less able to focus on printed words.” Biological Psychiatry, August 2014
Health Alert: Kidney Stones Increase Risk of Heart Disease. A new study suggests that kidney stones can increase an individual’s risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. The results of the study found that patients with kidney stones have a 19% increased risk for coronary heart disease and a 40% higher risk for stroke. Thomas Manley, director of scientific activities at the National Kidney Foundation, writes, “Kidney stones are common, and with their association to coronary heart disease and stroke found in this study, it suggests that a thorough cardiovascular assessment should be considered in patients who develop kidney stones.” American Journal of Kidney Diseases, August 2014
Diet: Avoid Eating When You’re Not Hungry. If you want to avoid eating when you’re not hungry, it is important to avoid common triggers that can lead to consuming extra calories and packing on pounds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that common triggers include seeing favorite snacks in the pantry, watching TV, close proximity to a vending machine, stressful situations, and being bored. The CDC recommends developing strategies for avoiding such triggers or finding healthier options if such situations are unavoidable. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 2011
Exercise: Daily Moderate Exercise Reduces Disability Risk in Seniors. Daily moderate exercise can mean the difference between becoming housebound or keeping up with everyday activities later in life. Researchers found that daily moderate exercise among participants ages 70 to 89 reduced loss of mobility by 28% and increased walking ability by 18%. The exercise involved walking 150 minutes a week as well as strength, flexibility, and balance training. Co-principal investigator Dr. Jack Guralnik adds, “The very purpose of the study is to provide definitive evidence that physical activity can truly improve the independence of older adults.” Journal of the American Medical Association, May 2014
Chiropractic: Chronic Disease Increases Musculoskeletal Pain Risk! An analysis of musculoskeletal injuries among police officers in South Korea found that officers who suffer from one or more chronic diseases (diabetes, for example) are 1.78 times more likely to experience musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder, neck, waist, hands/wrists/fingers, arms, and legs. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, June 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Best Time for Sun Exposure. Sun exposure is important for vitamin D synthesis, but too much sun can increase an individual’s risk for skin cancer. In a newly published study, a research team from Oslo University Hospital recommends the best times for optimal vitamin D production with minimal risk of skin cancer development are between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Lead author Dr. Johan Moan adds that the common recommendations to avoid the sun altogether between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM may be wrong. Advanced in Experimental Medicine and Biology, August 2014
Quote: “Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.” ~ Anais Nin
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 .
