Dr Beecher’s June 9 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, June 9th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Premature Menopause Can Lead to Mental Decline. According to a new study, premature menopause can increase a woman’s risk of mental decline in her later years. Menopause usually begins after age 50; however, premature menopause begins at or around age 40. In the study, the premature group was more likely to do poorly on verbal and visual memory tests and they also had a 35% higher risk of decline in psychomotor speed compared to women who began menopause after age 50. Further research is needed to address treatment options to reduce risks of mental decline in women who enter menopause at younger ages. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2014
Health Alert: E-Cigarette Vapor Potentially Harmful. A new report suggests that e-cigarette vapor produces tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, potentially causing or accelerating respiratory diseases. Investigators are unsure whether these chemicals are harmful if you inhale them, as safety research is only known regarding ingestion of these chemicals. The authors believe researchers need to come together and set standards for researching e-cigarettes, given that there are so many different liquids and devices available to the public. HealthDay, May 2014
Diet: Fruits & Vegetables Lower Stroke Risk. Research from the American Heart Association indicates that eating fruits and vegetables can reduce a person’s risk of stroke. Investigators found stroke risk decreased 32% for every 200 grams of fruit a person consumed each day. Furthermore, stroke risk decreased 11% for every 200 grams of vegetables consumed each day. Stroke, May 2014
Exercise: 40 Not Too Old to Start Exercising. Men who start exercising after age forty are likely to experience the same long- term heart benefits as those who have exercised since early adulthood. Study author David Matelot adds, “It’s never too late to change your way of life and get more physically active. This will always be beneficial for the heart and well-being. And there’s no need for a high level of training for many hours a week. Using the stairs rather than the elevator, or gardening regularly, can also be beneficial.” European Society of Cardiology, May 2014
Chiropractic: Chronic Low Back Pain Associated with Depression and Fatigue. A survey of over 500 chronic low back pain patients who have been on work disability for between two and ten months shows that 69.7% report experiencing substantial fatigue as well. Those reporting fatigue are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms and are also more likely to still be in pain 3, 6, and 12 months after completing their initial survey. Pain Medicine, April 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Free Radicals Not So Bad? Free radicals can stimulate apoptosis, also referred to as programmed cell death. This may be a way to avoid a cell becoming cancerous or to destroy viruses that have taken over a cell. In some cases, investigators observed that free radical apoptosis reinforces cell defenses, meaning a potential increase in lifespan. According to senior author Dr. Siegfried Hekimi, “People believe that free radicals are damaging and cause aging, but the so-called ‘free radical theory of aging’ is incorrect. We have turned this theory on its head by proving that free radical production increases during aging because free radicals actually combat – not cause – aging. In fact, in our model organism we can elevate free radical generation and thus induce a substantially longer life.” Cell, May 2014
Quote: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~ Elmer G. Letterman
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 March 3 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 3rd, 2014
Mental Attitude: Online Courses for Stress Reduction? While mindfulness training in a 1-on-1 setting has been shown to be beneficial for reducing perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, researchers at the University of Oxford wondered if such training delivered via the internet would be as effective. A group of 273 participants completed an online mindfulness course that consisted of 10 sessions over an average time span of four weeks. Following the course, outcome assessments showed reductions in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression similar to those reported by participants who experienced in-person trainings. BMJ Open, February 2014
Health Alert: Amazing! Scientists from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland and the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy have announced the first known instance of an amputee “feeling” the world via a state-of-the-art sensory- enhanced artificial hand. Sensations felt by the “hand” are converted into electrical impulses that communicate with the patient via wires that were surgically connected to nerves in his arm. Science Translational Medicine, February 2014
Diet: The Mediterranean Diet and Firefighters. The Mediterranean diet is rich in fish, nuts, vegetables, and fruits and previous studies have linked it to a decreased risk for cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. However, these studies tend to focus on an older population, patients with existing health problems, and people who live in Mediterranean countries. In this study, the participants were firefighters living in the Mid-Western United States. The firefighters who most adhered to the diet had a 35% decreased risk for metabolic syndrome and were 43% less likely to gain weight compared with those who least followed the diet. PLOS ONE, February 2014
Exercise: Play Team Sports! Because of declining estrogen levels, menopausal women are at greater risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Researchers found that menopausal women who participated in team-based sports for just twelve weeks had significant reductions in their blood pressure and improvements in blood vessel function, putting them at a 40% lower risk for stroke and a 20% lower risk for heart disease. As an added benefit, the majority of the women enjoyed the activity and were likely to continue participating after the study concluded. AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, January 2014
Chiropractic: Just Two Treatments. Nearly 200 adults with spinal pain were separated into two groups. One group received two chiropractic adjustments and the other received two sham adjustments so researchers could differentiate if results were the result of the adjustment itself or the expectation of treatment. Two weeks later, researchers assessed each group and found the adjustment group reported greater improvements in pain, better overall improvement, and higher satisfaction. Spine, November 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Folic Acid and Pregnancy. Despite decades of research recommending pregnant women take folic acid supplements in order to prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects, only 31% of pregnant women in the United Kingdom (UK) do. Additionally, among women who had previously given birth to a baby with a neural tube defect, only 51% took a folic acid supplement during subsequent pregnancies. In the United States, Australia, and 74 other countries, some grain-based foods are fortified with folic acid in hopes of reducing the risk of these types of birth defects. PLOS ONE, February 2014
Quote: “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”
~ Abraham Lincoln
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 .
