Dr Beecher’s May 19 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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Week of Monday, May 19th, 2014
Mental Attitude: Working Memory Boosted by Green Tea. Consuming green tea may enhance cognitive function,
especially a person’s working memory. Researchers found that study participants who consumed a beverage that included green tea extract showed increased connectivity between the right superior parietal lobule and the frontal cortex of the brain. This action correlated with enhanced performance on working memory tasks. This finding may lead to new treatment for disorders involving cognitive impairments, such as dementia. Psychopharmacology, March 2014
Health Alert: Half the Population of the Americas at Risk for Insect-Borne Disease. Approximately 50% of people living in the Western Hemisphere are at risk of one or more diseases carried by ticks, flies, mosquitoes, and other vectors. Some of these diseases include West Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue fever, malaria, chagas, and schistosomiasis. Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) adds, “Our region has achieved many successes in controlling vector-borne diseases. However, this success is being threatened by the expansion of mosquitoes and other vectors into new habitats and by the emergence of insecticide and drug resistance. PAHO and its partners are today calling for stepped-up action in the fight against vector-borne diseases in the Americas.” Pan American Health Organization, April 2014
Diet: Eating Legumes Keeps Away Bad Cholesterol. According to a new report, just one serving of legumes per day can reduce a person’s low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The study found that people who ate 3/4 cups of non-oil-seed legumes each day experienced a 5% reduction of LDL cholesterol. Unfortunately, some participants experienced side effects from eating legumes such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and constipation. Co-author Dr. John Sievenpiper believes that the 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol correlates to a 5-6% risk reduction for major vascular events. Canadian Medical Association Journal, April 2014
Exercise: Exercise Curtails COPD Hospitalization. New research suggests that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who exercise at a moderate to vigorous level have a lower risk of hospital readmission within 30 days compared with those who are inactive. Researchers found that patients with COPD who exercised 150 minutes a week or more had a 34% lower risk of readmission within 30 days compared to those who were inactive. The finding suggests exercising three to five times a week will help improve COPD symptoms, physical functioning, and quality of life. Similar results published earlier in 2014 support this finding. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, April 2014
Chiropractic: Hand & Practice. The word “Chiropractic” combines the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (practice) to describe a treatment done by hand. Hands-on therapy with an emphasis on spinal adjustment is central to chiropractic care. Chiropractic is based on the premise that the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) affects a person’s health. National Institutes of Health, February 2012
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Insufficiency Increases Fracture Risk. Women with low blood levels of vitamin D over a five-year period had a greater risk of osteoporosis-related fracture over the following decade. Osteoporosis International, April 2014
Quote: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
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 May 6 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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Week of Monday, May 6th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Teenaged Smoking, Depression, and Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a costly health problem. Although it is primarily evident in postmenopausal women, its roots can be traced to periods of growth, including adolescence. A recent study showed that smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls had a negative impact on adolescent bone growth and may lead to future low bone mass or osteoporosis and higher fracture rates in postmenopausal years. Journal of Adolescent Health, April 2013
Health Alert: World’s Population To Stop Growing? A research team predicts that the Earth’s population will stabilize by 2050. The world population in 2100 will be within a range of 15.8 billion people (according to the highest estimates with a high fertility variant) and 6.2 billion (according to the lowest estimates with a low fertility variant). The lowest estimate is actually lower than the current world population of 7 billion. In fact, the world-wide fertility rate has already fallen by more than 40% since 1950. United Nations, February 2013
Diet: Heart Disease and Red Meat. Carnitine, a compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks, has been found to promote atherosclerosis (hardening or clogging of arteries).
Nature Medicine, April 2013
Exercise: Walking and Smoking. Teens who increased the amount of time they exercised by at least 20 minutes
(equivalent to a short walk) were more likely than their peers to resist lighting up a cigarette.
Journal of Adolescent Health, April 2013
Chiropractic: Neck Pain Relief! 75% of Americans deal with neck pain at some point in their lives. In a study comparing spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) and prescription medication as treatment options, researches concluded that SMT was more effective both in the short and long-term. At the end of 12 weeks, 57% of participants in the SMT group reported at least a 75% reduction in pain, while only 33% of the medication group had similar results. One year later, patients in the chiropractic group were still experiencing benefits, as 53% still saw at least a
75% reduction in pain. Annals of Internal Medicine, January 2012
Wellness/Prevention: Kidney Disease and Being Overweight. Being overweight in young adulthood may significantly increase individuals’ risks of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) by the time they become seniors. Those who were overweight in their late 20s and early 30s were twice as likely to have CKD at age 60-64 years compared with those who first became overweight at age 60-64 years or never became overweight. Larger waist-to-hip ratios (“apple-shaped” bodies) at ages 43 and 53 years were also linked with CKD at age 60-64 years. Researchers estimate that 36% of CKD cases at age 60-64 in the United States population could be avoided if nobody became overweight until at least that age. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, April 2013
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Quote: “A fit, healthy body—that is the best fashion statement.” ~ Jess C. Scott
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Dr Beecher’s March 25 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 25th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Happiness and Age? Psychological well-being is linked to important life outcomes such as career success, relationship satisfaction, and health. Well-being tends to increase with age; however, when you were born can have a lasting impact on your overall sense of well-being. For example, people who grew up during the Great Depression started off with lower levels of overall well-being than their children who grew up during more prosperous times. As they aged, their overall sense of well-being increased but stayed below the following generation’s levels at similar ages. Based on this data, researchers warn that people growing up in today’s more challenging economic environment may experience similar long-lasting effects to their overall sense of well-being. Psychological Science, February 2013
Health Alert: Alcohol On The Brain? Excessive alcohol use accounts for 4% of the global burden of disease, and binge drinking is a growing health issue. Functional signs of brain damage from alcohol misuse in young people include deficits in visual learning, memory, and executive functions. Structural signs of alcohol misuse in young people include shrinking of the brain and significant changes to white matter tracts.
Cortex, February 2013
Diet: Obesity Causes Vitamin D Deficiency? Researchers have observed a 4.2% drop in Vitamin D levels for each 10% increase in BMI. Vitamin D is important because it aids bone health and decreases risk of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, and early death. PLoS Medicine, February 2013
Exercise: Reduce Risk of Dementia. People who exercise and have higher physical fitness levels during middle age have a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia later in life.
Annals of Internal Medicine, February 2013
Chiropractic: Osteoarthritis and Injuries From Early Adulthood. Young adults who had injuries to the knee and/or hip were 3x-5x as likely to suffer from osteoarthritis in the knee and/or hip later in life than young adults who suffered no such injuries. Annals of Internal Medicine, September 2000
Wellness/Prevention: Osteoporosis Risk. Risk factors for osteoporosis include: inadequate dietary calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency, lack of regular weight-bearing exercise, cigarette smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Medical Journal of Australia, February 2013
Quote: “I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
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 17 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 17th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Don’t Worry Be Happy. The more you stay positive and happy in life, the better chance you
have of avoiding a stroke. Optimistic people have a healthier immune system, faster wound healing, and a lower risk of heart disease. So don’t worry, be happy.
Journal of The American Stroke Association and The Mayo Clinic, Aug 2011
Health Alert: Strokes On The Rise? From 1995-2008, ischemic stroke incidence rose 50% for males age 35-44;
46% for males age 15-34; and 51% for boys age 5-14. For females age 35-44, ischemic stroke incidence rose 29%;
23% for females age 15-34; and 3% for girls age 5-14. One in three ischemic stroke patients aged 15-34 had three stroke factors, while half of 35-44 year olds with ischemic stroke had hypertension. Risk factors said to be linked to
stroke risk include family history; having had a previous stroke; having had a transient ischemic attack; African Americans and those of Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Island descent have a higher risk of stroke; birth control pills; cardiovascular disease; cocaine usage; diabetes; heavy alcohol consumption; hypertension; high cholesterol; high
amino acid levels in the blood; obesity/ overweight; smoking; being over 55 years of age.
Annals of Neurology, Aug 2011
Diet: Prune Power? In the US, 8 million women have osteoporosis because of the sudden cessation of ovarian hormone production at the onset of menopause. In the first 5-7 postmenopausal years, women are at risk of losing bone at a rate of 3-5% per year. In a study, the group of women who consumed dried plums had significantly higher bone mineral density in comparison with the group of women who ate dried apples. This was due, in part, to the ability of dried plums to suppress the rate of bone resorption, or the breakdown of bone, which tends to exceed the rate of new bone growth as people age. British Journal of Nutrition, Aug 2011
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise reduces your anxiety level, helps control blood pressure in people with hypertension, and protects against “creeping obesity” (the slow, but steady weight gain that occurs as you age). Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Happy Patients! In this study, the average intake pain rating of patients cared for by Doctors of Chiropractic was 6.2 of 10, and the average discharge score was 1.9 of 10. 95% of the patients rated their care as “excellent.” Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, Feb 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Ancient Bugs. When they were developed less than a century ago, scientists were surprised at how fast bacteria developed resistance to antibiotic drugs. Recently, researchers discovered antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria recovered from 30,000-year-old permafrost. This shows antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon predating the modern clinical antibiotic use. Nature, Sept 2011
Quote: “Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
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.
