Dr Beecher’s March 9 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 9th, 2015
Mental Attitude: Student Loans = Stress for Young Adults. A new study finds that student loan debt is a significant cause of stress among young adults. Researchers conducted a survey across the United States and found that those with greater student loan debt reported higher levels of depressive symptoms. Study author Dr. Katrina Walsemann writes, “We are speculating that part of the reason that these types of loans are so stressful is the fact that you cannot defer them, they follow you for the rest of your life until you pay them off.” Further research is needed to determine how student loan debt affects other areas of health and life, such as job choices, marriage, and children. University of South Carolina, January 2015
Health Alert: Lung Cancer Now the #1 Cancer Killer of Women in Wealthy Nations. According to a new report, lung cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the leading killer of women in developed countries. Experts explain that an increase in female smokers in the 1970s is the likely explanation for the upsurge in lung cancer-related deaths among women in present day. On the other hand, early detection and improved treatments have led to a decline in breast cancer-related deaths in recent decades. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, February 2015
Diet: Healthy Diet & Nutrition Critical for Mental Health. A new collaborative study adds to a growing body of evidence showing a relationship between both diet quality and potential nutritional deficiencies and mental health. Studies have shown that many nutrients have a clear influence on brain health including omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins (particularly folate and B12), choline, iron, zinc, magnesium, S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), vitamin D, and amino acids. Lead author Dr. Jerome Sarris writes, “While the determinants of mental health are complex, the emerging and compelling evidence for nutrition as a key factor in the high prevalence and incidence of mental disorders suggests that nutrition is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.” The Lancet Psychiatry, January 2014
Exercise: Get Fit at Home. You don’t need to invest in a gym membership to get fitter, stronger, and healthier. The American College of Sports Medicine reports that you can get a great home-based workout with the following inexpensive essentials: an uncluttered space of about 100 square feet, light dumbbells, a stability ball, and resistance bands. They recommend a training routine featuring 8 to 10 different exercises that works all muscle groups. American College of Sports Medicine, February 2015
Chiropractic: GERD Improves with Adjustments. A recent case study involved a 27-year-old woman who presented at a chiropractic clinic with a history of upper and mid-back pain as well as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). She received a two- month course of chiropractic care that included adjustments, traction, and exercises to improve posture. She reported improvement of her GERD symptoms and x-rays revealed improvement in spinal alignment at the conclusion of care. The findings support the use of chiropractic care for gastro-intestinal symptoms in addition to musculoskeletal pain. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, June 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Use of Media Devices Affect Teens’ Sleep Significantly. A Norwegian study has found that if it takes more than an hour for a teenager to fall asleep, there is an almost 50% likelihood that they are spending more than four hours per day outside of school using electronic devices such as computers, TVs, smartphones, and MP3 players. The findings are of concern since the majority of teens in the United States report having at least one electronic device in their bedroom, and poor sleep has implications on school performance. The authors add, “The current recommendation is not to have a TV in the bedroom. It seems, however, that there may be other electronic devices exerting the same negative influence on sleep, such as PCs and mobile phones. The results confirm recommendations for restricting media use in general.” Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, November 2014
Quote: “Even if you are 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 August 25 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 25th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Ultrasounds May Detect Autism in Utero. A newly published study using ultrasound scans to check for fetal defects found that children who went on to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had a greater head and abdominal size at 20 weeks in the womb compared with children who did not develop ASD. This discovery could offer a small window into fetal development that could help doctors diagnose and treat ASD earlier. However, these findings were presented at a medical conference and are considered preliminary since they have not yet undergone a peer review process. International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, June 2014
Health Alert: Pavement Sealer Ban Linked to Cleaner Lake Water. A ban of certain types of pavement sealants made from coal tar has led to lower levels of cancer-causing compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an Austin, Texas lake. In 2006, Austin was the first city in the United States to ban these types of pavement sealants. Past studies have shown that PAHs cause cancer in animals, and there are concerns that these compounds could be harmful to human health as well. Environmental Science & Technology, June 2014
Diet: Treat High Blood Pressure with Vitamin D? An analysis of more than 146,500 individuals revealed that for every 10% increase in vitamin D blood levels, researchers found a corresponding 8% decreased risk for developing high blood pressure. According to study leader Dr. Elina Hypponen, “In view of the costs and side effects associated with antihypertensive drugs, the potential to prevent or reduce blood pressure and therefore the risk of hypertension with vitamin D is very attractive.” The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, June 2014
Exercise: Sports During Adolescence Has Mental Health Benefits During Young Adulthood. Participating in school sports during adolescence appears to have a protective effect on mental health in young adulthood. Researchers surveyed 850 students for five years about their participation in school sports such as basketball, soccer, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Three years following graduation, the researchers followed up with these former students to find out how often they experienced depressive symptoms, how much stress they experienced, and how they rated their mental health on a scale of 1 to 5. Those who participated in sports were less likely to be depressed, were better able to handle stress, and were more likely to rate their mental health as excellent. Journal of Adolescent Health, June 2014
Chiropractic: How Chronic Back Pain Can Affect Quality of Life. Nearly a third (32.9%) of patients receiving pharmaceutical treatment for chronic low back pain report that their current medication does not improve their pain, according to a study of over 3,000 chronic low back pain patients in South Korea. Among the patients surveyed, 67% classified their pain as moderate to severe, 43.5% had been in pain for more than two years, 32.4% had trouble sleeping because of their pain. Asian Spine Journal, June 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Men Who Have Smoked Should Be Screened for Aneurysms. A panel of American health experts recommends that older men who smoke or who are ex-smokers should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a weak spot in the main blood vessel that takes blood from the heart and can be fatal if it bursts without warning. The risk for an abdominal aneurysm in men who have smoked is approximately 7% compared to just 2% for men who have never smoked. Because the risk for women who have smoked is less than 1%, screening for females is not recommended. Annals of Internal Medicine, June 2014
Quote: “Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”~ Oscar Wilde
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 February 20 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, February 20th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Not So Smart At 45? A human’s ability to remember data, to reason, and to understand things properly can begin to worsen at 45 years old (not at 60 years old, as previously believed). Mental reasoning among males aged 45-49 dropped by 3.6%, and 9.6% in the 65-70 age group. Among females, the decline was 3.6% for those aged 45-49, and 7.4% among those aged 65-70. This demonstrates the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly cardiovascular health, as there is emerging evidence that “what is good for our hearts is also good for our heads.” Risk factors linked to cognitive decline: hypertension, obesity and
high cholesterol levels. British Medical Journal, Jan 2012
Health Alert: The Uninsured! Lack of health insurance is associated with less preventive care, delays in diagnosis and unnecessary deaths. However, insurance status doesn’t affect the quantity (or value) of imaging services received by patients in a hospital, in-patient setting. Uninsured hospital in-patients who underwent imaging received the same number of imaging services as insured persons. The uninsured received fewer interventional and image-guided procedures but more computed tomography (CT) studies.
Journal of the American College of Radiology, Jan 2012
Diet: Diet And Brain Shrinkage. Elderly people with higher levels of vitamins B, C, D, E and omega 3 fatty acids in their blood had better performance on mental acuity tests and less of the brain shrinkage typical of Alzheimer’s disease. Consistently worse cognitive performance was associated with a higher intake of the type of trans-fats found in baked and fried foods, margarine, fast food and other less-healthy dietary choices. Neurology, Jan 2012
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise helps to relieve constipation, expands blood plasma volume, reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer and helps to combat substance abuse.
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Posture and Health. Posture and normal physiology are interrelated. Posture affects and moderates every physiological function from breathing to hormonal production. Abnormal posture is evident in patients with chronic and stress related illnesses. Homeostasis and nervous system function are ultimately connected with posture. American Journal of Pain Management
Wellness/Prevention: Licorice And Tooth Decay. Two substances in licorice (licoricidin and licorisoflavan
- A) kill the bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, the leading causes of tooth loss in children and
adults. Journal of Natural Products, Jan 2012
Quote: “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” ~ Albert Einstein
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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
