Dr Beecher’s October 29 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 29th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Benefits of Green Tea. Previous studies have shown that green tea consumption aids in both weight loss and lowering cholesterol levels. Green tea is full of anti-oxidants and has also been known to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, depression symptoms, wrinkles, the risk of high blood pressure. Green tea also benefits diabetics because it slows the rise of blood sugar after eating. A new study reveals that it may also benefit memory and spatial awareness. (Note: Green tea decaffeinated with CO2 retains as much as 95% of the original anti-oxidant levels. If the ethyl acetate process was used, only about 30% of the anti-oxidants will be retained.)
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, September 2012
Health Alert: $750 Billion Lost A Year! America’s health care system is inefficient, suffers from data overload, and is both complex and costly. Each year, $750 billion (roughly $.35 per dollar spent) is wasted nationwide on inflated administration costs, fraud, and pointless services. These problems can also result in needless patient suffering and deaths. Institute of Medicine. September 2012
Diet: Anorexia. Patients with anorexia have trouble accurately judging their own body size, but not the bodies of others. In a test, when asked if they could pass through a doorway, anorexic patients felt they could not pass through the door even when it was easily wide enough. However, anorexic patients were more accurate at judging others’ ability to pass through the doorway than their own. The study also found a correlation between the perception of the patients’ own ability to pass through the aperture and their body size prior to becoming anorexic, suggesting that the patients may still think of themselves as their previous size. PLOS ONE, August 2012
Exercise: The Elderly. The benefits of exercise are positive for all seniors, including those who are considered frail. The advantages appeared after just three months and included increased cognitive and physical abilities, as well as increased quality of life. Journals of Gerontology, August 2012
Chiropractic: Lack of Motion. A joint that is not mechanically stimulated will atrophy, leading to degeneration. However, even passive motion (ex: someone else bending your leg for you) is beneficial to cartilage regeneration. Arthritis Care and Research, 2006
Wellness/Prevention: Coconut Oil and Tooth Decay. Digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. The study found that enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibits the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans (an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay). Society for General Microbiology, September 2012
Quote: “If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” ~ Ben Franklin
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 22 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 22nd, 2012
Mental Attitude: Don’t Choke! For many skilled athletes, the movements they execute in an athletic event have been practiced so much, they occur with little conscious thought. However, when athletes don’t perform well under pressure, they may focus too much on their movements which causes their performance to decrease even more.
Right handed athletes who squeezed a ball in their left hand before an athletic event were more able to perform under pressure. It’s thought that clenching with the left hand helps activate the right side of the brain that is associated with
automated behaviors, such as those used by athletes to dribble, kick, shoot, swing, etc.
American Psychological Association, September 2012
Health Alert: Improper Rinsing? The improper use of neti pots, as well as other devices for rinsing out the
sinuses, has been linked to a higher risk of infection. The FDA warns that if they are not used properly, the user runs a risk of developing serious infections, even potentially fatal ones. The devices are safe and useful overall, as long as they are properly used and cleaned. FDA, September 2012
Diet: Why Some Fats May Be Bad. Some fats (like animal fats) are linked to ailments like heart disease and diabetes while others (like those from fish, plants, and nuts) have health benefits. Why the difference? The results of one study suggest that some fats encourage the growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive system. Our bodies recognize those fats and launch an immune response. The result is low-level inflammation that, over the long term, causes chronic disease. Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2012
Exercise: Get Fit Dad! According to a team of experts at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Zoology, a father’s obesity negatively impacts sperm, which results in smaller fetuses, poor pregnancy success, and decreased placental development. Society for Reproductive Biology, August 2012
Chiropractic: What Causes Pain? One possibility is ligaments or tendons being slightly torn or under physical stress or tension. These tissues can easily become damaged due to injury or long periods (weeks, months, or years) of overwork. Physical Exam Spine and Extremities, Hoppenfeld
Wellness/Prevention: Healthy Lifestyle. According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is the leading cause of mortality in the world, responsible for 7 million deaths a year (15% of all deaths). Healthy behaviors regarding alcohol, physical activity, vegetable intake, and body weight reduce the risk of hypertension by two thirds. Having two healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of hypertension by 50% in men and 30% in women.
National Institute for Health and Welfare, September 2012
Quote: “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” ~ Ben Franklin
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 15 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 15th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Cannabis and IQ? A recent study indicates that daily cannabis use by teenagers (< 18 years old) results in neuropsychological decline, which persists even after they stop smoking. The group also had IQ scores that were 8 points lower than their counterparts who never smoked or started.
Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, September 2012
Health Alert: Bad Medicine? Approximately one in five prescriptions to elderly people are inappropriate. Some of the medications with the highest rates of inappropriate use were the antihistamine diphenhydramine, the antidepressant amitriptyline, and the pain reliever propoxyphene. PLOS ONE, September 2012
Diet: Chocolate? Chocolate may be beneficial for reducing stroke risk in men. Flavonoids found in chocolate may decrease blood concentrations of bad cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. Flavonoids, a group of polyphenolic compounds known to have beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects, appear to protect against cardiovascular disease through antioxidant, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. Men who ate the largest amounts of chocolate (63 grams – a third cup of chocolate chips – per week) had a 17% lower risk of stroke than men who never, or very rarely, ate chocolate. Also, for each additional 50 grams of chocolate consumed per week (a quarter cup of chocolate chips), there is a fall in stroke risk of about 14%. Many researchers maintain it is dark chocolate that is good for the heart, but about 90% of the chocolate intake in this study was milk chocolate.
Karolinska Institute, August 2012
Exercise: Lack of Exercise As A Medical Condition? According to physiologist Michael Joyner, M.D., “physical inactivity is the root cause of many of the common problems that we have.” These problems include obesity, diabetes, joint damage, and high blood pressure. If lack of exercise (deconditioning) was treated as a medical condition, then perhaps more patients and doctors would see exercise as a treatment that should be considered first for many medical complaints. Mayo Clinic, August 2012
Chiropractic: What Causes Pain? One possibility is joint pain due to inflammation of tissues between and around the joints. As a person ages, or with trauma (old or new), their joints lose flexibility. As muscles and ligaments tighten and shorten, inflammatory chemicals can become trapped. Over time, the joint complex can degenerate and osteoarthritis may develop. Physical Exam Spine and Extremities, Hoppenfeld
Wellness/Prevention: TV Time? 31% of US children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Reducing TV viewing may be an effective strategy to preventing excess weight gain among adolescents. In this study, there was a clear association with reduction in TV hours and decreased weight gain over one year.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, September/October 2012
Quote: “Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.” ~ Albert Einstein
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s October 8 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 8th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Bright Lights? A new study shows that light therapy is beneficial to everyone, not just individuals who suffer from seasonal depression. When bright light therapy is administered through the ear canal directly to the photosensitive brain tissue, it improved cognitive performance and mood in all subjects. Students who received a daily, 12 minute bright light treatment through the ear canal for 3 weeks improved their reaction time by
25-30%. When channeled directly to the brain, bright light significantly increases activity in the neural networks, especially in regions of the brain linked to visual perception. Scandinavian Physiological Society, September 2012
Health Alert: Tattoo Infections? Some tattoo inks are tainted with nontuberculous Mycobacteria. This bacteria can cause lung disease, eye problems, and organ and joint infections. Tattoo inks and pigments may also be
contaminated with fungi and mold. Tattoo artists should make sure that only sterile water is used to dilute the inks.
US Food and Drug Administration, September 2012
Diet: Stroke and Diet. A poor diet may increase your risk of stroke in a few significant ways. Eating too much fat and cholesterol can lead to arteries that are narrowed by plaque, eating too much salt may contribute to high blood pressure, and eating too many calories can lead to obesity. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish may help lower your stroke risk. American Heart Association
Exercise: Less Is More? Good news, 30 minutes of exercise each day is better than one hour. On average, men who exercised 30 minutes a day lost ~8 lbs in three months, while those who exercised for a whole hour only lost ~6 lbs. One explanation is that half an hour of exercise is so doable that study participants had the desire and energy for more physical activity after their daily exercise session. Those who exercised for 60 minutes per day probably ate more, thus their weight loss was slightly less than anticipated. American Journal of Physiology, September 2012
Chiropractic: What Causes Pain? One possibility for pain is disk involvement. Pain may occur when a disk becomes inflamed, herniated (bulging), or ruptured. The mechanism can be due to an acute injury like a car accident or fall, or repetitive micro-trauma (long term wear and tear). In both cases, muscle spasms can occur, potentially causing severe pain. Physical Exam Spine and Extremities, Hoppenfeld
Wellness/Prevention: Decrease Stroke Risk? Chronic conditions that are risk factors for stroke: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. Behaviors that are risk factors for stroke: smoking, getting too little exercise, and heavy use of alcohol. American Heart Association
Quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ 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 www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s October 1 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 1st, 2012
Mental Attitude: Violent Images? People who watched more than four hours of TV a day relating to the 9/11 attacks and Iraq War coverage were more likely to report both acute and post-traumatic stress symptoms over time. According to study author Roxane Cohen Silver, PhD, “[It’s] important for people to be aware that there is no psychological benefit to repeated exposure to graphic images of horror.” Psychological Science, September 2012
Health Alert: Bad Belly Fat! People with a high waist-to-hip ratio (those with big bellies, but a normal body mass index score) are 2.75x more likely to die from a cardiovascular event. Mayo Clinic, September 2012
Diet: Junk, TV, and Income. Preschoolers from low-income neighborhoods and kids who spend more than two hours a day in front of a TV or video-game console have at least one thing in common: a thirst for sugary soda and juice. 54.5% of 4-5 year olds from poorer neighborhoods drank at least one soda per week, compared to 40.8% of kids from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Preschoolers from low-income areas also drank less milk and consumed more fruit juice, which, like soda, is linked to rising sugar intake. Researchers found similar drinking habits among preschoolers who spent more than two hours of “screen time” per day watching TV or playing video games. Kids from poorer neighborhoods sat in front of screens more often, and drank larger volumes of sweetened beverages. Just 30% of children ate recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, and only 23.5% consumed the recommended amount of servings of grain products. University of Alberta, August 2012
Exercise: Exercise and Cancer Recovery? Studies have shown the powerful effect exercise can have on cancer care and recovery. For patients who have gone through breast or colon cancer treatment, regular exercise has been found to reduce recurrence by up to 50%. Mayo Clinic, September 2012
Chiropractic: What Causes Pain? One possibility is nerve pain. When a nerve becomes “pinched,” compressed, or inflamed due to an impinging or degenerated disk, the nerves that innervate the spine can become injured. This mechanism can lead to a radiculopathy, where pain radiates down your arm or leg.
Physical Exam Spine and Extremities, Hoppenfeld
Wellness/Prevention: Drink Water! Water is your body’s principle chemical component and makes up 60% of your body weight. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose, and throat tissues. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, and even mild dehydration (as low as 1-2% loss of normal water volume) can drain your energy and make you tired.
Institute of Medicine
Quote: “Great ideas originate in the muscles.” ~ 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.
