Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, November 23rd, 2015

Mental Attitude: Secondhand Smoke May Cause Behavior Issues in Kids.

An analysis of data concerning more than 5,200 primary school students reveals that kids exposed to secondhand smoke while in the womb and/or at a young age have a greater risk for behavioral problems, especially emotional and conduct disorders. Study leader Dr. Isabella Annesi-Maesano wrties, "Our data indicate that passive smoking, in addition to the well-known effects on health, should also be avoided because of the behavioral disorders it may cause in children."

PLOS ONE, September 2015

Health Alert: Birds May Bring Exotic Ticks North.

The seasonal migration of some bird species may allow ticks to hitch a ride from Central and South America to the United States. Researchers found that 3% of migratory birds carried so-called neotropical ticks, which means birds likely bring more than 19 million neotropical ticks to the United States every spring. Fortunately, there is no evidence that any ticks have established permanent populations as exotic ticks can’t survive, reproduce, and spread in a Northern climate. However, some experts warn climate change may make it possible for these neotropical ticks to establish themselves in the United States in the future.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2015

Diet: Vitamin D May Helps Women Build Muscle After Menopause.

According to a new report, vitamin D supplementation can significantly increase muscle strength and reduce the loss of body muscle mass in women years after menopause. Researchers found older women who received vitamin D supplements experienced a significant increase (+25.3%) in muscle strength, while those receiving a placebo lost an average of 6.8% of their muscle mass during the course of the multi-year study. The study also revealed that those who did not receive vitamin D supplements were nearly two times more likely to experience a fall. Dr. Wulf H. Utian, the Executive Director of The North American Menopause Society adds, "While this study is unlikely to decide the debate over Vitamin D, it provides further evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplements by postmenopausal women in an effort to reduce frailty and an increased risk of falling."

The North American Menopause Society, September 2015

Exercise: Do You Want to Live longer? Start Walking More and Sitting Less.

Replacing one hour of sitting each day with walking can decrease the chance of early death among seniors by 12-14%. Researchers also note that swapping one hour of sitting each day with standing results in a 5% decrease in the risk of premature death. On average, people over the age of 70 spend around 65-80% of their waking time performing sedentary activities, so substituting some of this time with standing or light physical activity could have a positive impact on their overall health.

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, September 2015

Chiropractic: Manual Therapies for Cancer Radiation Patients?

Radiation therapy for neck and head cancers can often result in neck pain and loss of motion. A small study involving five participants suggests that the use of manual therapies, treatments commonly performed by doctors of chiropractic, can help reduce pain and improve mobility in this class of patients without adverse outcomes.

Clinical Otolaryngology, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: What's Your Resting Heart Rate?

Even if you’re not an athlete, knowing your heart rate can help you keep tabs on your fitness level. A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute. Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness.

American Heart Association, October 2015

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, November 16th, 2015

Mental Attitude: Common Flame Retardants May Cause Attention Problems in Children.

According to a new article published in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology, prenatal exposure to commonly used fire retardants is associated with attention problems in young children. In the study, researchers analyzed umbilical cord blood samples for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are commonly used as fire retardants, and found the children in the study with the highest exposure to certain PBDEs had approximately twice the number of attention problems at ages 3-7 when compared with the other children in the study with less PBDEs exposure. Senior author Dr. Julie Herbstman writes, "These findings reinforce the decision to phase-out the use of PBDEs in consumer products and support the need to develop programs for safely disposing of products containing PBDEs that are still in use."

Neurotoxicology and Teratology, October 2015

Health Alert: Antibiotic-Resistant 'Superbug' an Emerging Threat.

Health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn antibiotic-resistant bacteria are on the rise in some major American cities. CRE, or Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, are a class of common bacteria that have become resistant to some of the most widely used antibiotics. According to the CDC, experts have recorded higher-than-expected levels of this bacteria in Atlanta, Baltimore, and New York. Most CRE infections occur in hospitals, but officials from the CDC are worried that havoc could ensue if CRE starts to become transmitted outside of healthcare settings since enterobacteriaceae are so common.

Journal of the American Medical Association, October 2015

Diet: Looking for an Energy Boost?

If you feel rundown or tired, coffee isn’t the only option to perk you up. The National Sleep Foundation recommends eating magnesium-rich nuts, iron-rich spinach, eggs, or fresh fruit.

National Sleep Foundation, October 2015

Exercise: Sit-Stand Desks Promotes More Movement for Office Workers.

More and more employers are introducing sit-stand desks in their office spaces to encourage more physical activity. A new study involving 69 participants revealed that employees with sit-stand desks stand for one hour more a day at work when compared to co-workers with sit-only desks. The study also found that sit-stand desk users walked an average of six additional minutes and burned an extra 87 calories per day at work. Lead study author Dr. Lucas Carr writes, "Our findings are important because they support redesigning the traditionally sedentary office environment as a potentially cost-effective approach for fighting the obesity epidemic."

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, October 2015

Chiropractic: Smokers at Greater Risk for Sciatica.

A comprehensive literature search has identified smoking as a risk factor for sciatica, a condition often described as numbness or tingling in the leg that stems from dysfunction in the lower back. More specifically, investigators found current smokers are 1.46 times more likely to experience lumbar radicular pain or have clinically verified sciatica than those with no history of smoking. Though the risk is lower among former smokers, they are still 15% more likely to develop the condition than nonsmokers.

The American Journal of Medicine, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Asthma Prevention.

If you suffer from asthma, keeping it under control is essential for your overall health. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute suggests creating an asthma action plan that includes medications and what to do if symptoms worsen, avoiding your asthma triggers, getting regular checkups, recording symptoms and peak flow readings to share with your healthcare provider, and sticking closely to your treatment plan.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, October 2015

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, November 9th, 2015

Mental Attitude: Beauty Is in Eye of the Beholder.

Some aspects of attractiveness are common and may even be programmed into our genes. However, a new study finds that individuals can have wide-ranging definitions of attractiveness. The authors of the study published in the journal Current Biology write, "We estimate that an individual's aesthetic preferences for faces agree about 50 percent, and disagree about 50 percent, with others."

Current Biology, October 2015

Health Alert: Drunk Driving Is a Serious Problem in the US!

Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report nearly 121 million episodes of alcohol-impaired driving occur in the United States (US) each year. According to their data, nearly all (85%) incidents of drunk driving involve individuals who had been binge drinking.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 2015

Diet: Don't Replace Saturated Fats with Processed Carbs.

Researchers found that when individuals replaced 5% of their saturated fat calories with healthier polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in nuts, their risk for coronary heart disease decreased by 25%. Replacing 5% of their saturated fat calories with monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, cut their risk by 15%, and substituting 5% of saturated fats with whole-grain carbohydrates led to a 9% decrease in heart disease risk. However, when consumers replaced 5% of their saturated fat calories with processed carbohydrates such as white bread or rice, the researchers found no benefits to heart health. The message of the study is to reduce saturated fat and processed foods in your diet, while increasing your intake of healthier fats and whole foods.

Journal of American College of Cardiology, September 2015

Exercise: Short, Intense Exercise Bursts Improve Teen Cardiovascular Health.

For teens, just eight-to-ten minutes of high-intensity interval exercise three times per week can significantly improve both blood vessel function and resting heart rate. University of Exeter's Dr. Alan Barker adds, "We know that activity levels drop significantly as children reach adolescence, and so far attempts to increase this to an hour a day have proved fruitless. This study indicates that, providing the intensity is high, health benefits are achievable with just 8-10 minutes of exercise."

American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, September 2015

Chiropractic: Neck Pain Recurrence Low One Year After Chiropractic Care.

Previous research indicates between 60-80% of individuals with neck pain will experience a recurrent episode a year later. In a new study, Swiss researchers followed 642 neck pain patients who received chiropractic treatment and found only 11% experienced another episode of neck pain during the following year. They note patients with a history of neck pain and older individuals were the most at risk for future episodes.

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Bike Helmets Prevent Severe Brain Injury.

A new study shows that wearing a bicycle helmet significantly reduces the risk of serious brain injury and death in the event of a collision. A medical record analysis of more than 6,200 people who suffered a brain injury in a cycling crash revealed that those who wore a bike helmet were 58% less likely to have their injury categorized as severe. The study also found that helmet users were 59% less likely to die, 61% less likely to require surgery to alleviate brain swelling, and 26% less likely to have facial fractures. The findings show the importance of bicycle helmet use, developing and enforcing stricter helmet use laws, and the creation of better helmets.

American College of Surgeons, October 2015

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, November 2nd, 2015

Mental Attitude: "Phubbing" Bad for Relationships.

A report published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggests that smartphones can damage romantic relationships and lead to greater levels of depression. The research focused on "phubbing," or "partner phone snubbing," a term given to those who use or are distracted by their cellphones while in the presence of a partner. Researcher Dr. James A. Roberts writes, "What we discovered was that when someone perceived that their partner phubbed them, this created conflict and led to lower levels of reported relationship satisfaction. These lower levels of relationship satisfaction, in turn, led to lower levels of life satisfaction and, ultimately, higher levels of depression… Something as common as cellphone use can undermine the bedrock of our happiness - our relationships with our romantic partners."

Computers in Human Behavior, August 2015

Health Alert: Taller People at Greater Risk of Cancer.

The taller you are, the greater the risk you have of developing cancer. Investigators followed 5.5 million Swedish men and women for over 50 years and found that for every additional 10 cm (~3.4 inches) of height, the risk of developing cancer increased by 18% in women and 11% in men. Lead researcher Dr. Emelie Benyi comments, "It should be emphasized that our results reflect cancer incidence on a population level. As the cause of cancer is multifactorial, it is difficult to predict what impact our results have on cancer risk at the individual level." The team hopes to investigate how mortality from cancer and other causes of death are associated with height.

Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology, October 2015

Diet: Higher-Protein Diet Could Help Some with Type 2 Diabetes.

A high-protein diet might benefit people with type 2 diabetes, but it may depend on whether or not they possess a particular gene related to vitamin D metabolism. In a new study, individuals with a particular gene variant that boosts blood levels of vitamin D experienced greater reductions in insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity when they ate a higher-protein diet. The researchers note this information is not practically useful at present time since people do not know the genetics behind their personal vitamin D metabolism but it may be helpful in the future as genetic profiling becomes a more common aspect of healthcare.

Diabetologia, September 2015

Exercise: Find 30-Minutes to Workout.

Finding the time and motivation to exercise 30 minutes a day can be difficult. However, if you can devise ways to make your routine interesting and enjoyable, you may wind up looking forward to exercising. The Academy of Nutrition of Dietetics recommends: planning three 10-minute mini-workouts per day, exercising as a family, using household chores to burn extra calories, and taking a walk with a co-worker during lunch or breaks.

Academy of Nutrition of Dietetics, October 2015

Chiropractic: Migraine Sufferers Have Altered Muscle Performance.

A new study has found that individuals with chronic migraines exhibit altered neck muscle performance, take longer reach to maximum strength with some neck movements, and have higher co-activation of neck flexor muscles when bending forward at the neck. These findings add to the growing body of research that dysfunction in the neck may play some role in the presence, frequency, and intensity of migraine headaches.

Headache, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Staying Up Late Associated with Weight Gain in Teens and Young Adults.

The later a teenager or young adult goes to bed during weekdays, the more likely they are to gain weight over time. Researchers analyzed data of 3,342 teens and young adults and found that the later an individual's bedtime, the more weight they were likely to gain over a five-year period. Lead author Dr. Lauren Asarnow comments, "These results highlight adolescent bedtimes, not just total sleep time, as a potential target for weight management during the transition to adulthood."

Sleep, October 2015

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, October 26th, 2015

Mental Attitude: Is Work Stress as Dangerous as Secondhand Smoke Exposure?

Having a high-demand job that regularly places a lot of stress on an individual can result in a similar number of poor health outcomes as can regular exposure to secondhand smoke. Study author Dr. Joel Goh writes, "Unless and until companies and governments more rigorously measure and intervene to reduce harmful workplace stressors, efforts to improve people's health - and their lives - and reduce healthcare costs will be limited in their effectiveness."

Behavioral Science & Policy Association, September 2015

Health Alert: Some High School Students Using E-Cigarettes to "Vape" Cannabis.

A new report finds that some teens are using electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis instead of nicotine. These adolescents are replacing nicotine solution in their e-cigarettes with cannabis products such as hash oil, dried cannabis, and wax infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the active ingredient in cannabis. The researchers conclude, "These findings raise concerns about the lack of e-cigarette regulations and the potential use of e-cigarettes for purposes other than vaping nicotine."

American Academy of Pediatrics, September 2015

Diet: Reducing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Improves HDL in Children.

Researchers have found that reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake among schoolchildren by a minimum of one serving per week can improve their HDL (good) cholesterol. They also note that high consumption of these beverages was linked to a lower intake of fruits and vegetables among the same age group. Senior author Jennifer Sacheck comments, "Importantly, not only are most sugar-sweetened beverages high in sugar and devoid of nutritional value, but they are displacing other foods and beverages that offer high nutritional quality, which are critical for children's growth and development, further exacerbating the potential harmful health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages."

The Journal of Nutrition, September 2015

Exercise: Resistance Training Can Help Fibromyalgia Patients.

Even though it seems counterintuitive to place physical stress on the muscles of patients with muscle pain, resistance training appears to have a positive effect on reducing the severity of symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.

Arthritis Research and Therapy, September 2015

Chiropractic: Back Pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Among a sample of 365 nurses, researchers found 59.7% had experienced back pain during the previous year. Those who had at least one episode of back pain during the preceding twelve months were significantly more likely to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease characterized by fatigue that is not improved by bed rest. The research team notes this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between back pain and chronic fatigue syndrome in hospital employees.

Agri, July 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Signs of Hypothyroidism.

When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormone, it can lead to a condition known as hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include feeling tired, being sensitive to cold, developing a hoarse voice and slowed speech, a decrease in pulse rate, developing coarse scaly skin and thicker hair, numbness in the hands and fingers, constipation, weight gain, headaches, confusion, depression, and signs of dementia.

University of Maryland Medical Center, September 2015

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, October 19th, 2015

Mental Attitude: Sleep Apnea May Hurt Kids’ School Performance.

Investigators have found that children with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, perform worse on language arts, math, and science tests than kids without such conditions. The findings come from a review of sixteen studies dealing with sleep apnea or related disorders in children and academic achievement. Lead author Dr. Barbara Galland writes, "Given the potential adverse consequences of sleep-disordered breathing on health, behavioral, and learning outcomes in children, it is important for parents and clinicians to recognize symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing."

Pediatrics, September 2015

Health Alert: Almost 50% of Adults in US Have Diabetes or Are at High Risk of Getting It.

Nearly half of all American adults have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, claims a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers say that up to 14% of adults had either diagnosed or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in 2011-2012, and approximately 38% had diagnosed or undiagnosed prediabetes.

Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2015

Diet: Eat More Nutrient-Rich Foods.

Taste is an important part of what makes food appealing, but opting for nutrient-rich foods is essential to give your body the fuel it needs to perform its best. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests these nutrient-rich food choices: whole grains, a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables, lean protein such as fish, skinless poultry, beans, and low-fat dairy.

American Academy of Family Physicians, September 2015

Exercise: Male Teens Who Exercise Think Better When They Grow Up.

Using over thirty years of data from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study, researchers found a significant association between greater teenage physical fitness levels among males and better cognitive function two decades later. According to the research team, "The results suggest a stimulating effect of adolescent physical activity in males on executive functions in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of an active lifestyle amongst adolescent males."

Journal of Physical Activity & Health, September 2015

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Rated High for Treatment of Dizziness and Balance Issues.

Past research shows that about 30% of older adults experience dizziness and balance problems. A new study examining the types of treatment sought by patients with balance and dizziness complaints and the success of those treatments revealed that only 4.7% utilized chiropractic care. However, those patients who did see a chiropractor reported the highest treatment success rate for their dizziness and balance issues. The authors speculate that most dizziness and balance problems in older individuals may be caused by dysfunction in the neck that can be successfully addressed by chiropractic care.

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D May Prevent Macular Degeneration in Some Women.

Women who are deficient in vitamin D may be up to 6.7 times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than women without who have healthy vitamin D levels. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness, and it affects more than ten million Americans. The study's lead author, Dr. Amy Millen writes, "Most people have heard that you should eat carrots to help your vision. However, there appear to be many other ways that adequate nutrition can support eye health. Having adequate vitamin D status may be one of them."

JAMA Ophthalmology, August 2015

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, October 12th, 2015

Mental Attitude: Mental Health Care Is Vital But Often Tough to Get.

A survey shows that most Americans believe mental health care is important, but they often think it is expensive and hard to obtain. Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention writes, "Progress is being made in how Americans view mental health and the important role it plays in our everyday lives. People see the connection between mental health and overall well-being, our ability to function at work and at home, and how we view the world around us. Respondents want to help a loved one by connecting them to the right mental health treatment and support."

Anxiety and Depression Association of America, September 2015

Health Alert: Cold Weather May Increase Stroke Risk for Some.

The onset of cold weather may actually pose health risks for some individuals with a heart condition. A new study found colder weather can increase the risk of stroke for people with atrial fibrillation by as much as 20% when compared with their risk during the warmer months. Atrial fibrillation is a common condition in which the heart beats irregularly that affects about 9% of elderly individuals in the United States.

European Society of Cardiology, August 2015

Diet: Kids Eat Too Much Salt!

Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say 90% of school children eat too much salt on a daily basis and one in six kids has hypertension. The CDC recommends the following strategies to help reduce your child's salt intake: try different herbs and spices in place of salt, use "low sodium" or "no salt added" ingredients, eat more fruits and vegetables, and eat fewer processed foods.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 2015

Exercise: Bike-Related Injuries Are Up Among Older Americans.

Between 1998 and 2013, bicycle injuries among those over 45 years of age jumped 81% and hospital admissions increased 66%. Lead researcher Dr. Benjamin Breyer writes, "As cyclists in the [United States] shift to an older demographic, greater attention is needed in injury prevention measures through improved infrastructure, such as bike lanes, use of personal protective equipment, such as helmets, as well as improved rider and motorist education."

Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2015

Chiropractic: Neck Pain and Episodic Migraines.

Nearly 500 migraine headache sufferers were asked to track the presence of neck pain in relation to a headache episode to determine if it preceded the migraine or occurred at its onset. The researchers found 69.4% of participants reported neck pain either before or during a migraine episode. Of those, almost half had neck pain in the hours before their headache manifested. This suggests cervical dysfunction may play some role in the development of migraine headaches.

Journal of Headache and Pain, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Interventions to Help Reduce Sitting Time.

Previous studies have shown a link between time spent sitting and cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and early death, even among those who regularly exercise. An analysis of 26 published studies found the most effective interventions for reducing sitting time were promoting sit-stand desks, encouraging people to keep a record of how much time they spend sitting each day, setting individual goals for limiting sitting time, using alarms to encourage people to get up and move around, and educating people on the health consequences of sitting too much.

Health Psychology Review, September 2015