Dr Beecher’s October 13 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 13th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Marital Stress Strains Parent-Child Relationships. An analysis of more than 200 families revealed that when parents reported conflict and tension in their marriage, their interactions with their children were also strained in the immediate future. Study author Dr. Chrystyna Kouros writes, “The quality of that relationship spills over into each parent’s interactions with the child. So if mom and dad are fighting, it will show up initially — and in some cases on the second day — in a poorer quality relationship with their kids.” Journal of Family Psychology, August 2014
Health Alert: Germs Follow Families When Moving. Microbiologists at the United States Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory claim that a unique population of bacteria follows families when they move to a new home. The research team notes that it took less than a day for a family’s new home to have the same bacteria populations as their old home. The findings suggest that analyzing bacteria in a home could predict if a person has lived in a specific location and how recently with a great deal of accuracy. Science, August 2014
Diet: Salt Problematic for MS Symptoms. There may be a link between salt consumption and multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. In a newly published study, individuals who consumed moderate or high amounts of salt had approximately three more episodes of progressing symptoms and were four times more likely to have exacerbations when compared to individuals who consumed the least salt per day. The researchers add, “High salt intake is implicated in various aspects of poor health. Findings suggest further research into whether dietary salt reduction could ease MS symptoms or slow the progression of the disease might now be warranted.” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, August 2014
Exercise: Exercise While Watching Television. The American Council on Exercise offers these suggestions to get some exercise while you watch TV: ditch the remote and change the channel yourself, walk around the house or up and down the stairs during commercials, perform resistance exercises while watching TV, use a treadmill or stationary bike, and perform activities that involve standing, such as ironing clothes. The American Council on Exercise, August 2014
Chiropractic: Acute Neck Pain Patients Satisfied with Spinal Manipulation. According to a recent study, individuals with acute and sub acute neck pain were more satisfied with receiving spinal manipulation or home exercise/advice than taking medication prescribed by a physician. Overall, participants who received spinal manipulation performed by a Doctor of Chiropractic were the most satisfied of the three groups in the study in regards to the general care they received. Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, September 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Smartphone Could Screen for Jaundice in Newborns. A team from the University of Washington is developing a smartphone app called BiliCam that could make it easier for doctors and parents to monitor newborns to determine if blood tests are needed to confirm jaundice. Caregivers can use the app by placing a calibration card on the baby’s naked torso and then taking a photo with their smartphone. The app then uses an algorithm to analyze the photo and report on the likely levels of bilirubin in the baby. Bilirubin is a substance that builds up in the blood causing a yellowing of skin and happens in newborns when the liver is not yet optimally functioning. The team hopes the app will also be useful in developing countries where jaundice accounts for many newborn deaths. University of Washington, August 2014
Quote: “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Neck Pain – Chiropractic and the Older Patient
Clear Lake City Chiropractor Comments: People of all ages suffer from neck pain, and many frequently turn to chiropractors for care because it’s been found to be one of the most effective and efficient forms of treatment available, and it carries minimal side effects! It has been projected that by 2030, nearly one in five US residents will be 65 or older. Currently, approximately 14% of the patients treated by chiropractors are 65 or older, making it one of the most frequently utilized forms of complementary and alternative care used by older adults. What kind of care can a senior citizen expect when seeking treatment from a chiropractor? Let’s take a look!
Musculoskeletal pain, or pain in the neck, back, arms, and/or legs, drives the majority of elderly patients to chiropractors. While low back and neck pain are the most common complaints, it’s not unusual for patients to also have one or two other conditions (or more) that they did NOT know chiropractic care could help. In fact, common “goals” for managing every patient (not just the elderly) include services related to patient assessment, maintenance of health, and prevention of illness, in addition to treatment of illness or injury. Common chiropractic treatment approaches include spinal manipulation and/or mobilization, nutritional counseling, physical activity/exercise, and (especially important for the elderly population) fall prevention.
We will now focus on neck pain as it relates to the elderly population and the various chiropractic management strategies that might be encountered by an elderly patient. Common reasons patients present regarding the neck include limited movement, stiffness, and pain. Neck pain can also interfere with sleep, as finding a comfortable position in bed can be quite challenging! Lifting, carrying, and playing with grandchildren is a very common issue for either causing a new complaint or irritating an existing one. Neck pain may also interfere with reaching and lifting. Thus, activities like yard or garden work may become more difficult and less enjoyable. Neck pain is often associated with headaches, which can make daily tasks even more challenging.
When an elderly patient visits a chiropractor for the first time or for a new complaint, he/she can expect to fill out some initial paperwork, as well as provide a history of the main complaint and any lesser complaints. This may also include providing a family and medical history. The examination usually includes general observations, palpating or feeling for muscle tightness, tenderness, warm/ cool, range of spinal motion (neck, back, extremities), orthopedic tests, neurological tests, and possibly x-rays. Treatment of the neck may include massage or mobilization to loosen up the neck, manipulation to free up restricted joint motion, and even exercise training. The goal of treatment is to improve neck motion, activity tolerance, and quality of life (less pain, improved sleep, etc.). So, whether you are 10, 20, 50, 70, or 90 years old, give chiropractic a chance to help you manage your neck pain!
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Dr Beecher’s June 30 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, June 30th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Bullied Teens Carry Weapons to School. Bullied teens are 31 times more likely to bring weapons, such as guns and knives, to school compared with teens who have not been bullied, according to a new study. Lead investigator Dr. Lana Schapiro warns, “With estimates of more than 200,000 victims of bullying carrying a weapon to high school, more effective prevention efforts and intervention strategies need to be identified.” American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2014
Health Alert: Many Parents Not Following Recommended Sleep Practices for Babies. Half of infants in some regions of the United States (US) aren’t being placed on their back during sleep despite the fact it would reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SIDS is responsible for more deaths among infants aged one month to one year old than any other cause, killing more than 2,000 babies in 2010 alone. Study author Dr. Sunah Hwang writes, “Although the precise cause of SIDS is still unknown, we do know that safe sleep practices, such as sleeping on the back, reduces the risk of infant death in the first year of life.” American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2014
Diet: Vitamin E May Prevent Brain Damage from Stroke. Tocotreinol, a little-known type of vitamin E, may prevent or reduce brain damage during stroke. Researchers claim that tocotreinol increases the diameter of existing arteries in response to oxygen demand. It is this process that may prevent brain damage by offering a “collateral” blood supply. Study leader Dr. Cameron Rink adds, “We know that people who have good collaterals have better recovery from strokes. We think that tocotrienol helps improve the function of collaterals, which would offer someone better protection from an initial or secondary stroke.” Dr. Rink further adds that one day vitamin E may be used as a common treatment for stroke prevention. Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science, May 2014
Exercise: Yoga During Pregnancy Good for Health. Stress during pregnancy can have negative effects on both mother and child, but a new study suggests that yoga could reduce the risk of developing anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Researchers analyzed questionnaires and performed stress hormone assessments on yoga participants and found that a single session of yoga reduced self-reported anxiety by 33% and stress hormone levels by 14%. They suggest yoga could help mothers and their children become healthier while reducing healthcare costs. Depression and Anxiety, April 2014
Chiropractic: Back Pain and Neck Pain are a Major Cause of Missed Work. An evaluation of data concerning over 8,000 Spanish workers reveals a correlation between chronic neck and back pain, and missing one or more days of work for health- related issues. Individuals who reported having frequent neck and back pain were 44% more likely to be absent from work for more than 30 days out of the year. Spine, May 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Millions of Deaths Could be Prevented by Risk Factor Reduction. A new report suggests that reducing six modifiable risk factors to specific target levels could prevent 37 million premature deaths over the next 15 years. Target levels for reducing risk factors include a 30-50% reduction of tobacco use, 10% reduction of alcohol consumption, 30% reduction in salt intake, 25% reduction in high blood pressure, and halting the rise of the obesity and diabetes prevalence. If all the targets are met, there would be a reduction in risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disease, cancers, and diabetes by 22% in men and 19% in women. The Lancet, May 2014
Quote: “A man may fall many times but he won’t be a failure until he says someone pushed him.” ~ 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 24 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 24th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Have You Noticed Any Changes in Your Memory? Dr. Erin Abner of the University of Kentucky’s Sanders- Brown Center on Aging asked 3,701 men ages 60 and up if they had noticed any changes in their memory since their last doctor visit. She found that the patients who reported on-going incidences of memory loss that affected their daily lives were more likely to be diagnosed with cognitive decline later in the years ahead. This finding could lead to earlier detection and perhaps more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s diseases and other conditions that affect cognitive function. University of Kentucky, February 2014
Health Alert: Half of All Cancer Deaths Could be Avoided! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early detection could cut the worldwide cancer death rate in half. Experts note the leading preventable risk factors for cancer development are tobacco use, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary activity, unhealthy diet, sexually transmitted diseases, and air pollution. The WHO estimates cancer claimed 8.2 million lives in 2012. World Cancer Report, February 2014
Diet: Four Ways to Reduce Sugar in Your Diet! Here are four tips from the American Heart Association for reducing your added sugar intake: 1) Try putting less sugar on foods like cereals or in beverages like tea and coffee. When you’re used to it, try cutting back even more. 2) Buy fresh fruits or fruits canned in water, not syrup. 3) Instead of sugar, add fresh fruit or dried fruit to foods like oatmeal. 4) Add spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg to foods instead of sugar. American Heart Association, February 2014
Exercise: Walking Decreases COPD Hospitalization Risk. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that describes difficulty breathing due to long-term lung damage. New research shows that COPD sufferers can greatly reduce their risk of hospitalization with severe attacks by simply walking 3-6 kilometers (~1.8-3.6 miles) per day. Respirology, February 2014
Chiropractic: Neck Pain Affects Breathing. Researchers at the Technological Educational Institute of Lamia in Greece examined a group of chronic neck pain patients and a group of individuals with no previous incidence of neck pain to see if a correlation exists between neck pain and respiratory dysfunction. They found that neck pain sufferers have significantly reduced breathing capacity and lower respiratory muscle strength. They also noted a strong association between increased forward head posture and decreased respiratory muscle strength. Cephalalgia, July 2009
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Divorce with Movies? For newlyweds, watching and then discussing movies about relationships appears to be just as effective at preventing divorce as more time and energy intensive counseling programs. Participants attended a ten-minute lecture on the importance of relationship awareness and how watching couples in movies could help them pay better attention to their own behavior. Then, they watched a movie and had a 12 question guided discussion with their spouse. During the following four weeks, they were asked to watch one movie each week from a prepared list of movies and conduct the same guided discussion afterwards. When researchers later compared the three-year divorce rates of couples in this group with couples who participated in either conflict management or compassion and acceptance training, they found each resulted in an 11% three-year divorce rate. The three-year divorce rate for a control group that participated in no interventions was 24%. According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Ronald Rogge, “The results suggest that husbands and wives have a pretty good sense of what they might be doing right and wrong in their relationships. Thus, you might not need to teach them a whole lot of skills to cut the divorce rate. You might just need to get them to think about how they are currently behaving. And for five movies to give us a benefit over three years—that is awesome.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, December 2013
Quote: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” ~ Peter F. Drucker
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 10 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, February 10th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Depression’s Influence on Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers! Based on data provided by 322 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have identified that a patient’s psychological state can affect self- reported measurements about how their body responds to different treatments and therapies. The researchers recommend rheumatologists be aware of their patient’s mental state when assessing the efficacy of their treatment plan.
Arthritis Care & Research, December 2013
Health Alert: Smoking is a $289 Million Dollar a Year Burden! During the last half-century, 20 million Americans have died as a consequence of smoking and 16 million more continue to suffer from smoking-related conditions. The combined healthcare expenses and lost economic productivity that results from smoking-related illnesses costs the United States (US) about $289,000,000 each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every thirteen children alive in the US right now will die prematurely from smoking-related diseases unless current smoking rates drop! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2014
Diet: Diet Soda Not Helpful for Dieters! A new study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that drinking diet soda may not help dieters lose weight. Using data from the long-term National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers discovered that, even though people who drink diet sodas are drinking fewer calories, they tend to consume just as many or more total calories than people who drink sugary beverages. According to lead author Dr. Sarah Bleich, “The results of our study suggest that overweight and obese adults looking to lose or maintain their weight–who have already made the switch from sugary to diet beverages–may need to look carefully at other components of their solid-food diet, particularly sweet snacks, to potentially identify areas for modification.” American Journal of Public Health, January 2014
Exercise: How to Keep that New Year’s Resolution. Recording goals in a fitness diary, reflecting on successes and failures, and being held accountable by others are key strategies that have been found to maximize the achievement of all goals, including New Year’s resolutions. Loughborough University, January 2014
Chiropractic: The Cause of Post Car Accident Neck Pain. After a car accident, the cause of neck pain may be unknown. Muscles and ligaments can become strained and even inflamed, but they usually heal within six to ten weeks. Pain that lasts longer is usually due to injury to the disk, facet joint, or both. Facet joint pain is the most common cause of chronic neck pain after an accident. Facet joint pain may occur alone or along with disk pain and may sometimes be mistaken for muscle pain. North American Spine Society, January 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Breastfeeding and Rheumatoid Arthritis? A study of 7,000 older Chinese women showed that those who breast fed their children had a 50% reduced risk for rheumatoid arthritis later in life.
Rheumatology, January 2014
Quote: “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” ~ Maya Angelou
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 3 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, February 3rd, 2014
Mental Attitude: Be Positive! Young people with positive attitudes such as self-belief, aspiration, flexibility, and an appetite to learn were associated with less hyperactivity, fewer emotional problems, fewer problems with fellow pupils, greater inclination to help others, were happier, and slept better. Think Forward, January 2014
Health Alert: Alarming Rate of Overweight and Obese in Developing Countries. In the last three decades, the amount of overweight and obese people in developing countries has skyrocketed from 250 million to almost one billion people. In comparison, richer nations have seen a rise from 200 million to 600 million overweight and obese people over the same period of time. Dr. Steve Wiggin explains, “On current trends, globally, we will see a huge increase in the number of people suffering certain types of cancer, diabetes, strokes and heart attacks, putting an enormous burden on public healthcare systems.” Overseas Development Institute, January 2014
Diet: Vitamin E. A study involving 140 elderly men and women found that those with higher levels of vitamin E in their bodies were less likely to suffer from cognitive decline. Foods rich in vitamin E include spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, avocados, shrimp, rainbow trout, olive oil, broccoli, and pumpkin. Experimental Gerontology, January 2014
Exercise: As Effective as Medications. Doctors from the Stanford University School of Medicine reviewed the results of
305 studies involving over 300,000 patients and have determined that exercise may be as effective as medication in preventing early death in people who’ve had heart attacks or strokes. Furthermore, regular exercise lowers the risk of early death, helps one stay lean, and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, some cancers, and cognitive decline. Despite this information, only 21% of American adults meet the government’s recommendations for exercise: 150 minutes per week of moderately intense aerobic activity and muscle strengthening activities two days a
week that work all the major muscle groups. British Medical Journal, January 2014
Chiropractic: Can Neck Pain Affect Brain Activity? Transcranial magnetic stimulation measurements taken on chronic neck pain patients both before and after spinal manipulation showed that manipulation improved cerebellar motor processing in their brains. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that plays an important role in fine-tuning the body’s movements. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, October 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Decreasing Cancer Risk. Over an 8-year study period, postmenopausal women who closely followed the American Cancer Society’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines had a 17% lower cancer risk, a 20% lower risk of cancer-related death, and a 27% lower risk of death from all causes. According to lead author Dr. Cynthia Thomson, “The message is simple and clear: If you want to reduce your risk for cancer, even later in life, eat a healthy diet, be active daily, avoid or limit alcohol, and don’t smoke.”
US National Institutes of Health, January 2014
Quote: “Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect!” ~ Vince Lombardi
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 January 27 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, January 27th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Be Right or Be Happy? There’s an old saying, “Would you rather be right or be happy?” In a small experiment involving one married couple, researchers tested this adage by measuring the self-reported quality of life scores of both the husband and wife over time if the husband were instructed to always agree with every opinion and request his wife made (the wife was not informed of this instruction). After 12 days, the experiment was halted because the husband found his wife becoming increasingly critical of everything he did. The husband’s quality of life score fell from 7/10 on day one to 3/10 by day twelve. On the other hand, the wife’s score increased slightly from 8/10 to 8.5/10 during the study. According to the study’s authors, “It seems that being right is a cause of happiness, and agreeing with what one disagrees with is a cause of unhappiness… The results of this trial show that the availability of unbridled power adversely affects the quality of life of those on the receiving end… Many people in the world live as couples, and we believe that it could be harmful for one partner to always have to agree with the other. However, more research is needed to see whether our results hold if it is the male who is always right.” British Medical Journal, December 2013
Health Alert: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Cardiovascular Problems. There is concern that long-term, untreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular health problems. Researchers detected the presence of myocardial ischemia in 17% of the participants with PTSD but only 10% of participants without PTSD. Biological Psychiatry, December 2013
Diet: The Essentials. Omega-3 and omega-6 fats are called essential fatty acids because we cannot manufacture them ourselves, meaning they must come from the foods we eat. These fatty acids are named for their carbon-to-carbon double bond on a carbon chain, and only plants are able to make a double bond at the third or sixth carbon position. There are no known animals that create their own omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. New England Journal of Medicine, June 2012
Exercise: Dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association states 5.2 million Americans are affected by dementia and one in three seniors will die with some form of cognitive issue. Researchers claim dementia sufferers demonstrate improvements in cognitive functioning and their ability to perform daily activities when they engage in regular exercise. University of Alberta in Edmonton, December 2013
Chiropractic: Asymmetric Hip Mobility and Neck Pain. Over three hundred freshmen college students underwent an examination of their hip joints and were asked whether or not they suffered from neck pain. The results showed that the young adults with asymmetrical hip mobility were nearly three times more likely to also suffer from neck pain.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, July 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Life Satisfaction? Does money bring happiness? In most developing countries, life satisfaction rises as a country’s wealth increases and people are able to meet their basic needs. Once income reaches a certain level (around $36,000 USD), life satisfaction levels peak and begin to decline. Happiness dips because more money creates higher aspirations, leading to disappointment and a drop in life satisfaction if those aspirations are not met. World Values Survey, December 2013
Quote: “Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change.” ~ Andre Gide
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 December 30 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 30th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Blood Test for Concussions. Currently, 15-30% of concussion sufferers will experience significant, persistent cognitive deficits, such as processing speed, working memory, and the ability to switch or balance multiple thoughts. Unfortunately, doctors have no reliable way to asses if a concussion sufferer may fall into that group. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Baylor College believe they have discovered a blood test that can determine if a concussion sufferer will experience long-term neural complications. By testing blood for elevated levels of a specific protein (STNF), medical professionals can accurately identify if recovery issues will arise and what additional treatment measures should be taken. Frontiers in Neurology, November 2013
Health Alert: Alcohol and Acetaminophen. There were 116,395 new kidney failures, 571,414 people living with kidney failure, and 90,118 deaths from the disease in the United States in 2009. Moderate or light consumption of alcohol taken with acetaminophen may increase the risk of kidney dysfunction. Acetaminophen usage and low to moderate alcohol consumption are not considered as individual risk factors for kidney damage, but together, they increase a person’s risk for kidney damage by
123%. Mayo Clinic, November 2013
Diet: Fruits and Veggies are Good for Your Child’s Bones! A study from the United Kingdom found that fruit and vegetable intake was positively associated with increased total body bone mineral density and bone mineral content in adolescent girls and boys. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2006
Exercise: It Can Take Time… After the first two months of an exercise program, volunteers who had insomnia reported they were not sleeping any better than they had at the start of the study. It wasn’t until the four month mark that their insomnia improved. They also rarely reported sleeping better on nights when they had exercised and they almost always exercised for a shorter amount of time on the days after a poor night’s sleep. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, November 2013
Chiropractic: Significant Improvement! Fifty patients with neck and arm pain caused by an MRI-confirmed cervical disk herniation received chiropractic adjustments over a 90-day period. After two weeks, 55.3% of patients reported their pain had significantly improved. This number rose to 68.9% after one month and 85.7% after three months of care. No adverse events were reported. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, October 2013
Wellness/Prevention: Pesticides and Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common condition that affects 10% of women during their reproductive years. Symptoms may include painful menstrual periods, pelvic pain, and infertility. Researchers looked to
see if exposure to environmental chemicals with estrogenic properties (like some pesticides) could increase a woman’s risk for developing the disease. They found that women with blood samples showing exposure to two now-banned pesticides (beta-
hexachlorocyclohexane and mirex) have a 30-70% higher risk for developing the condition. Study author Dr. Kristen Upson concludes, “The take-home message from our study is that the persistent environmental chemicals, even those used in the past, may affect the health of the current generation of reproductive-age women with regard to a hormonally driven disease.” Environmental Health Perspectives, November 2013
Quote: “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” ~ John F. Kennedy
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 December 16 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, December 16th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Long-Term Opioid Use and Depression. Recent studies show more than 200 million prescriptions for opioid analgesics were issued in 2009 in the United States. Data on over 50,000 patients reveals that those on opioids for 180 days or longer have a 53% increased risk of developing major depression. Journal of General Internal Medicine, November 2013
Health Alert: Alcohol and TV. According to a voluntary standard adopted in 2003, alcohol companies agreed not to place any ads on TV programs where more than 30% of the audience was younger than age 21. However, a survey of television programs popular with youths shows that 25% of the programs still featured ads selling alcohol. Studies have shown that exposure to alcohol marketing increases the risk that children and young adults (under age 21) will begin drinking, and those who do start drinking will drink more and do so more often. CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 2013
Diet: Cruciferous Vegetables and Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates. Women with the highest fruit and vegetable intakes have better ovarian cancer survival rates than those who generally neglect these foods. Researchers found that yellow and cruciferous vegetables contributed to longer survival. The authors concluded that low-fat, plant based diets are not only beneficial for cancer prevention, but they may also play a role in increasing survival time after diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, August 2010
Exercise: Even Elderly Hearts Can Benefit From Exercise. A pilot study involving 310 adults over age 70 found that even men and women in their later years can improve their heart’s health with moderate physical exercise. To assess the effect of exercise on the heart, researchers measured a blood-based injury marker called Troponin T that is traditionally used to assess damage to the heart. After one year, Troponin T levels in the exercise group were less than a third of the levels found in the control group that did not exercise. The study’s lead author, Dr. Christopher DeFilippi adds, “Our findings suggest biochemical evidence to support the old adage, ‘You’re never too old to start a physical activity program to improve cardiac health.'”
American Heart Association, November 2013
Chiropractic: Pain in the Neck? The cervical spine is made up of seven bones called vertebrae, and these vertebrae are separated by disks filled with a cushioning gel-like substance. Your cervical disks stabilize your neck and also help it to turn. Decades of movement can really take a toll on the neck as two-thirds of people will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Researchers estimate that 50% of the population at 40 years of age and 70% of those at 65 years have some level of cervical disk degeneration. Cervical disk degenerative processes can cause radiating pain, as well as numbness and weakness in your shoulders, arms, and hands. Clinical Evidence Concise, 2004
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep for Children. In a recent study, when children increased their sleep by 90 minutes per night over just a few weeks, they consumed an average of 134 fewer calories per day, weighed a half pound less (~.2 kg), and had lower fasting levels of leptin, a hunger-regulating hormone that is also highly correlated with the amount of adipose (fat) tissue in the body. Pediatrics, November 2013
Quote: “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
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 30 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 30th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Control Over You Own Life? When people were provided with scientific evidence that supported the ability to predict the future, they felt a greater sense of control over their lives. One group of study participants read a paragraph stating that researchers had found evidence supporting the existence of precognition, while another group read a paragraph that refuted these findings. On a subsequent survey, people who read the paragraph confirming the ability to predict the future agreed more strongly with statements like “I am in control of my own life”; “My life is determined by
my own actions”; and “I am able to live my life how I wish.” PLOS ONE, August 2013
Health Alert: Taxing Sugary Beverages? Obesity rates in the United States are 36% for adults and 17% for children. Medical costs associated with obesity are ~$147 billion per year. A sugary beverage tax may reduce the consumption of soda but will likely lead to an increase in calories, salt, and fat intake from untaxed foods and beverages.
American Journal of Agricultural Economics, August 2013
Diet: Comfort Food Preferences? Researchers found that rats exposed to heightened levels of stress during their first few days of life were more likely to be prone to anxiety and stress in later life and preferred sugary and high-fat foods. This is the first study to demonstrate that comfort food preference could be enhanced by such an early stress exposure. Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, August 2013
Exercise: Teenaged Physical Fitness Reduces Suicide Risk in Adulthood. An analysis of over one million Swedish men found a link between physical fitness at age 18 and suicide risk up to 40 years later. Young men who performed poorly on an exercise bike test had an adulthood risk of suicide nearly 1.8 times that of their peers who were deemed physically fit. Psychological Medicine, June 2013
Chiropractic: Adjustments Validated. Patients with neck pain, neck dysfunction, and headache showed significant improvement with cervical spine adjustments. Duke Evidence Report, 2001
Wellness/Prevention: Breastfeeding and Alzheimer’s. Mothers who breastfed their children have a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Researches have two theories on why this may be the case: 1) Breastfeeding deprives the body of progesterone and progesterone is known to desensitize the brain’s oestrogen receptors. This may increase the amount of oestrogen in the brain, a hormone that may play a role in protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s. 2) Breastfeeding restores a woman’s insulin sensitivity after pregnancy. Alzheimer’s has been characterized as a resistance to insulin in the brain so much so that it has even been referred to as type 3 diabetes.
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, August 2013
Quote: “The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
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