Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, September 29th, 2014

Mental Attitude: Gardens Can Calm People with Dementia.
A review of 17 previous studies has found that gardening tasks -- such as watering plants or sitting or strolling in a garden -- can help sooth anxiety in some dementia patients. Experts say the findings are encouraging, and ongoing research into the potential calming power of outdoor space continues…
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, July 2014

Health Alert: Heart Attack Survival Rates Affected by Arrival Time at Hospital.
The American Heart Association has found that heart attack patients who present to a hospital at night, during the weekend, or on a holiday have a 13% increased risk of dying compared with heart attack patients who are admitted during regular hours. The authors found that, on average, it takes 56 minutes for patients arriving at the ER during regular work hours to receive the angioplasty procedure necessary to open their blocked blood vessel compared with an average of 72 minutes during evenings, weekends, or holidays.
Circulation, July 2014

Diet: Are Five Portions of Fruit & Veggies a Day Enough?
Consuming fruits and vegetables is important to reduce the risk of mortality from illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, but past studies have failed to come to a consensus on the ideal amount that should be consumed. A new study indicates that five portions of fruits and vegetables a day is optimum for reducing the risk of death from all causes. Investigators found a 5% average reduction in the risk of death from all causes and a 4% reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease for each additional portion of fruit and vegetables consumed per day up to a threshold of five portions per day.
British Medical Journal, July 2014

Exercise: Improves Motor Skill Development.
Researchers have demonstrated that a single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise can improve an individual’s ability to learn new motor skills up to a week after performing the activity.
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, August 2014

Chiropractic: Lower Premature Birth Risk Observed…
Does consulting with a Doctor of Chiropractic have any effect on birth outcomes? An analysis of data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health indicates that the answer may be yes. Researchers found that pregnant women who sought chiropractic services were less likely to deliver prematurely than women who did not receive treatment. Of course, more research is needed to determine if the relationship is causative.
Midwifery, March 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Smartphone App Could Help Doctors Diagnose Hereditary Diseases.
Hereditary diseases can be difficult to detect, as they can present an array of symptoms similar to other illnesses. Researchers have created a smartphone app called “Phenomizer” that can help simplify diagnosis for these types of conditions. Doctors begin by entering the symptoms of their patient into the app. Then, the system scans a large database that stores over 10,000 disease characteristics and links them to 7,500 diseases. Researcher leader Dr. Marcel Schulz writes, "The doctors no longer have to research in databases or books for several hours. The list supports them in detecting the disease more quickly. Moreover, doctors can ask patients about their symptoms in greater detail. This makes it easier to assess which aspects they need to pay attention to."
American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting, April 2014

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, September 22nd, 2014

Mental Attitude: Stress During Pregnancy May Increase Asthma Risk in Children.
Past studies have shown that exposure to stress during pregnancy can increase a child’s risk for premature birth, low birth weight, and development problems. Now, a new animal-based study suggests that maternal stress during pregnancy, even just one high-stress episode, can also increase an offspring's risk for developing asthma.
American Journal of Physiology, July 2014

Health Alert: Today’s Young Adults.
Compared with previous generations, today’s young adults (ages 18-24) are more likely to be high school graduates, attend college, and less likely to smoke cigarettes.
National Institutes of Health, July 2014

Diet: Kidney Disease Patients Should Avoid Southern-Style Diet.
Newly published research suggests that a “Southern-style diet” is linked with higher death rates among kidney disease patients. Researchers found that individuals with kidney disease who regularly consumed a Southern diet had a 50% higher risk for death compared to those who did not regularly consume a Southern-style diet. Lead author Dr. Orlando Gutiérrez writes, "This is the first study to identify a regionally specific diet pattern that is highly associated with adverse outcomes among persons with kidney disease. It's well known that the Southern region has poor health outcomes in a number of different areas including stroke, heart disease and sepsis, and that the style of diet plays a role."
American Journal of Kidney Diseases, July 2014

Exercise: Small Amounts of Exercise Protect Against Memory Loss in Elderly.
An animal study involving rats found that small amounts of exercise protected older rodents from memory loss and exaggerated inflammation in their brains following infection. This is the first study to show that voluntary exercise reduces aging-induced susceptibility to the cognitive impairments that follow a bacterial infection.
The Journal of Neuroscience, August 2011

Chiropractic: Back Pain and Anger.
Do people with back pain have shorter fuses? Using data provided by chronic back pain patients and their spouses, researchers have found that individuals with back pain appear to be quicker to anger and get angry to greater levels the more their pain interferes with their ability to function normally.
Healthy Psychology, August 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Protect Your Eyes When Using a Swimming Pool.
Swimming in chlorinated pools can wash away the outer film layer of the eye, increasing a swimmer’s risk for infections such as pink eye. Chlorine can also lead to red and irritated eyes, as well as blurry vision. The following tips can be helpful in preventing or easing eye problems associated with swimming in chlorinated pools: wear water-tight goggles, remove contact lenses, use lubricating eye drops, and flush eyes with clean drinking water after swimming. Swimmers should seek medical attention if they suffer from any of the following after leaving the pool: red eyes that are draining fluid, blurry or distorted vision, or severe pain.
Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, July 2014

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, September 15th, 2014

Mental Attitude: Low Vitamin D Levels May Increases Alzheimer's Risk.
Older adults with low levels of vitamin D in their blood may have double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to seniors with sufficient vitamin D levels. In the study, the risk for dementia and Alzheimer's significantly increased when vitamin D levels fell below 20 ng/ml. Experts believe that vitamin D may clear plaques in the brain linked with the development of dementia.
Neurology, August 2014

Health Alert: Big Rise in Drug-Related Suicide Attempts.
In the last six years, drug- related suicide attempts in the United States have jumped 51% among people 12 and older. In 2011, 96% of ER visits for attempted suicide involved the nonmedical use of prescription medications and over-the-counter medications.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, August 2014

Diet: Dining Out Equals Eating More Food.
If you regularly dine out, you may be eating more than you should. A new study has found that people who regularly eat at restaurants average about 200 more calories more per day compared with those who cook at home. Study co-author Dr. Lisa Powell writes, "We always underestimate large portions, so people don't realize that restaurant portions are as excessive as they are… This is why we need menu labeling on all restaurant meals, not just the fast-food and larger chains."
Public Health Nutrition, August 2014

Exercise: Exercise Positively Impacts Anxiety.
New research sheds light on how exercise and relaxation activities can positively impact people with social anxiety. Researcher Dr. Adam Heenan found that exercise and activities like yoga can change the way people perceive the world and change it in a way that they view the environment as less threatening and negative. For individuals with mood and anxiety disorders, this may be an important breakthrough.
PLOS ONE, July 2014

Chiropractic: Lower Extremity Joint Mobilization for Knee & Ankle Pain.
Manual therapy in the form of thrust and non-thrust manipulation to the lower extremity was found to be successful in restoring normal movement patterns and pain-free function in a 40-year-old patient with chronic anterior knee pain and ankle sprain symptoms. The patient had suffered for one year from patellofemoral pain syndrome, which is characterized by pain or discomfort originating from the contact of the posterior surface of the kneecap with the thighbone.
Journal of Manual Manipulative Therapies, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Is the PSA Test Worth It?
The debate continues over the value of the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test to screen men for prostate cancer. A new study points out that testing reduces prostate cancer deaths, but overdiagnosis occurs in roughly 40% of cases detected by screening. This results in a high risk of overtreatment that can lead to incontinence and impotence. Further research is needed on ways to reduce overdiagnosis so that unnecessary biopsy procedures and treatments can be avoided.
The Lancet, August 2014

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, September 8th, 2014

ental Attitude: High Blood Pressure in Middle Age May Weaken Brain Later.
If you let your blood pressure get too high in midlife, you may pay the price of mental decline when you are older. A study involving nearly 14,000 individuals found that hypertension in those aged 48 to 67 years was tied to a 6.5% drop in mental ability 20 years later.
JAMA Neurology, August 2014

Health Alert: Low Income People with Diabetes More Likely to Lose a Limb.
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found that the odds of having a limb amputated are up to ten times greater for diabetics who live in low-income neighborhoods. The authors of the study note that the majority of these amputations are preventable if these patients are diagnosed and receive proper medical care sooner.
University of California, Los Angeles, August 2014

Diet: Chili Peppers May Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer.
Capsaicin, the active ingredient found in chili peppers, may help reduce colorectal cancer risk. An animal study showed that capsaicin activated a pain receptor in mice that reduced tumor development in the gut and extended the lives of test subjects by more than 30%. Further research is needed to determine if capsaicin produces similar benefits among humans.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, August 2014

Exercise: Survival More Likely with Exercise-Related Cardiac Events.
According to new research, individuals who have a cardiac arrest during or shortly after exercise are three times more likely to survive (45% survival rate) compared with those who have a cardiac arrest that is not related to exercise (15% survival rate). Lead author Dr. Arend Mosterd writes, "More research is needed to determine why, after taking into account favorable factors such as age, location of the event and initiation of CPR, persons who exercise during or shortly before having a cardiac arrest still have a better prognosis than people who have a cardiac arrest that is unrelated to exercise."
European Society of Cardiology, August 2012

Chiropractic: High Satisfaction.
Using survey responses from nearly 500 patients from chiropractic clinics throughout Australia, researchers found that nearly all patients (97.5%) were satisfied with their care and would seek chiropractic services again in the future. About seven out of ten (68.7%) sought chiropractic care for a musculoskeletal injury and 21.2% did so for general health purposes.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Older Women May Benefit from Mammograms.
The results of a new study indicate that women who are age 75 and older may still benefit from routine mammograms; however, not all experts agree with this finding. Guidelines from organizations such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force claim there isn't enough evidence on routine mammograms for older women while the American Cancer Society recommends that women continue to have mammograms annually as long as they remain in good health. The study found that breast cancer survival was about 10% better in women over 75 years old whose cancer was detected early during a routine mammogram versus those whose cancer was detected later.
Radiology, August 2014

Weekly Health Update For The Week Of Monday, September 1st, 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