Dr Beecher’s December 24 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY NEWS HEALTH UPDATE

 Monday, December 24th, 2012

 Mental Attitude: Bad Day? Researchers found that adding just a couple extra minutes of exercise to your daily exercise routine can significantly increase your outlook on life. Penn State, October 2012

 

Health Alert: ‘Smoke-Free’ Laws! Laws that ended smoking at work and public places have resulted in lowered hospitalizations for heart attacks by 15%, strokes by 16%, and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 24%. It has reduced health care costs and also increased quality of life. Circulation, November 2012

 

Diet: Soda Consumption and Knee Osteoarthritis. After controlling for risk factors for knee osteoarthritis (obesity, age, prior knee injury, extreme stress to joints, and family history), men who drank sugary soft drinks experienced worse knee osteoarthritis progression than those who did not. This correlation was not apparent in women. American College of Rheumatology, November 2012

 

Exercise: Increased Life Expectancy! Low amounts of physical activity (75 minutes of brisk walking per week) increased longevity by 1.8 years after age 40, compared with doing no such activity. Walking briskly for at least 450 minutes a week was associated with a gain of 4.5 years. PLOS Medicine, November 2012

 

Chiropractic: Now That’s Fast! Your brain sends electric messages at 270 mph to every muscle and organ in your body. Guyton’s Physiology

 

Wellness/Prevention: High Blood Pressure and The Brain! A recent study found evidence of structural damage in the brains of hypertensive and pre-hypertensive people in their 30s and 40s. This sort of damage to the brain has been linked to cognitive decline in older people. According to Dr. Charles DeCarli, professor of neurology and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at UC Davis, “The message here is really clear: people can influence their late-life brain health by knowing and treating their blood pressure at a young age, when you wouldn’t necessarily be thinking about it.” The Lancet, November 2012

 

Quote: “The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” ~ Anthony Robbins

 

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 17 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, December 17th, 2012

 

Mental Attitude: Math Anxiety. People who experience high levels of anxiety about mathematics have increased activity in the brain regions connected with the feeling of physical pain. Previous research showed children with a higher math anxiety have a decreased math performance level. PLOS One, November 2012

 

Health Alert: Booster Seats. States with booster seat requirements for children up to 6-7 years olds were found to have a 35% lower rate of mortality and incapacitating injuries. States which had booster seat laws for children up to ages 4-6 had 20% lower death and incapacitating injury rates from car accidents than those without the laws. Pediatrics, November 2012

 

Diet: Red Meat and Dairy Products. As part of the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, researchers analyzed the diets of 525,000 participants to determine whether there is an association between dietary fat and pancreatic cancer. This study showed that consuming fat from red meat and dairy products is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer. There was no association between plant-food fat

and pancreatic cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, June 2009

 

Exercise: 6,000 Steps. Women 45-72 years old who walked 6,000 or more steps a day had a significantly lower risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The North American Menopause Society, November 2012

 

Chiropractic: Savings! Adding Chiropractic coverage to insurance plans decreased the total cost to treat back pain by 28%, reduced hospitalization for back pain by 41%, reduced back surgeries by 32%, and reduced the cost of medical imaging (ie X-Rays and MRIs) by 37%. WebMD, October 2004

 

Wellness/Prevention: BMI. The most frequently used measurement for body fat is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is figured by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by his or her height in meters squared. Obesity is a BMI of 30 or higher, while an ideal BMI is 18.5-24.9. The higher the BMI, the greater the risk for diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. American Journal of Epidemiology, November 2012

 

Quote: “To avoid sickness eat less; to prolong life worry less.” ~ Weng Chu Hui

 

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 10 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, December 10th, 2012

 

 

Mental Attitude: Reaction To Stress. How people react to stress determines how that stress will affect their health.  Study volunteers were separated in two groups: 1) those who let their troubles affect their emotional state and 2) those who didn’t let stress bother them at all. At a 10-year follow up, those who let stress affect them (group 1) were more likely to suffer from chronic health problems. Penn State, November 2012

 

Health Alert: Hip Replacement and Stroke Risk. Hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke risk is ~4% higher within 2 weeks of total hip replacement surgery. A hemorrhagic stroke is brought on by bleeding in the brain, while an ischemic stroke is brought on by arterial blockage. Total hip replacement is extremely common in the United States. Around 1 million hip replacement surgeries are done around the world every year, 300,000 in the United States alone. Stroke, November 2012

 

Diet: Vitamin D Levels Decreasing? Women with health issues such as arthritis, hypothyroidism, cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis are much more likely to have inadequate levels of vitamin D during seasons with decreased daylight. 28% of women had deficient levels and 33% had insufficient levels of vitamin D. Women taking supplements were able to significantly elevate their vitamin D levels.

American Society for Clinical Pathology, November 2012

 

Exercise: Exercise When You’re Sick? The choice to exercise or not sometimes depends on the sickness or disease. Our bodies work harder and use more energy when we are fighting an illness. If symptoms are above the neck (sore throat, runny nose), it is probably okay to exercise. If you’re sick but still want to exercise, simply reduce your intensity and duration. You should not exercise if you have body aches, fever, diarrhea or vomiting, shortness of breath or chest congestion, dizziness or light-headedness. When resuming your regular exercise routine, try starting with 50% effort and 50% duration.

Loyola University Health System, November 2012

 

Chiropractic: Complexity of The Brain. How complex is the brain? One cubic inch of brain cortex contains over 10,000 miles of connecting tissue. Guyton’s Physiology

 

Wellness/Prevention: Staying Healthy!  “The preservation of health is easier than the cure for disease.”

~ B.J. Palmer

 

Quote: “So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.” ~ Unknown

 

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 2012 Monthly Newsletter

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“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage.  The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”

~ William Ellery Channing

 

Exercise stimulates appetite?  New Research says… WRONG!

New Study Suggests When To Exercise

To Lose More Weight

More this month:

  • What’s the best time of day to exercise to both perform the best and lose the most weight?
  • New research shows our ancient ancestors were eating meat much earlier than expected… find out when.
  • Have scientists discovered a natural way to lower your risk of a gout attack?
  • One Human, One Animal: Two heartwarming and motivational stories you may find hard to believe…

Houston – This has been a hot topic for a very long time.  In fact, it’s quite possible that cavemen and cavewomen were debating this while sitting around the campfire chomping on Mastodon burgers. The question is:

What’s The Best Time Of Day To Work Out?

Okay.  Fine.  Cave people had a few more important things to worry about like food, shelter, and getting eaten by Saber-Toothed Tigers.

But, if you are trying to lose weight and get in shape TODAY, then the answer to this question may be VERY important to you.

If you are like most people, you have very limited time.  So, you want to get the maximum results from exercise that you can in as little time and with least effort possible.

The good news is that a few recently published research papers may have some answers…

The first is a study published in the October issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

This research out of Brigham Young University (BYU) shows that 45 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise in the morning actually reduces a person’s motivation for food.  This is contrary to the common belief that exercise STIMULATES appetite.

According to BYU: Professors, James LeCheminant and Michael Larson, measured the neural activity of 35 women while they viewed food images, both following a morning of exercise and a morning without exercise. They found their attentional response to the food pictures decreased after the brisk workout.

            “This study provides evidence that exercise not only affects energy output, but it also may affect how people respond to food cues,” LeCheminant said.  The report went on to say, “The 45-minute exercise bout not only produced lower brain responses to the food images, but also resulted in an increase in total physical activity that day, regardless of body mass index.”

One thing of interest was that the women did not eat more food on exercise days than non-exercise days.  In other words, they did not eat more to make up for the calories burned from working out.

The subject of food motivation and weight loss is so complex,” Larson said. “There are many things that influence eating, and exercise is just one element.”

What About Peak Performance?

There are studies that show the AFTERNOON is the best time for peak performance.  One study published in Sports Medicine in 1995 revealed that, “Performance of physical activity is generally improved in the afternoon or evening, compared with morning.”

Even more important are the results from a study published in Medical Science Sports Exercise in 1998 that found: “These results demonstrate that there is temporal specificity in training to increase work capacity in high-intensity exercise. Greater improvements can be expected to occur at the time of day at which high-intensity training is regularly performed.”

In other words, training at the same time every day yields the best results in regards to performance.

 

Here’s something to keep in mind…  The last two studies mentioned concern performance (strength, speed, etc.)  The first study done at BYU is about appetite and potential weight loss. Once again, science does not give us the clear-cut answer we are looking for.

So, What’s The Bottom Line?

Make an exercise plan and exercise regularly.  That is the number one priority.  Clearly, any workout is better than none.  But, TRY to workout at the same time every day.

These studies used small sample sizes and it is very possible that not everyone fits into these results.  For example, some people are morning people.  They jump out of bed at 5:30 every day cheering.  For others, that is torture.

So, is it possible that these two types of people have different peak performance times?  One early and the other later?  Yes, it is. Once again, try it out for yourself.  Just be consistent and give it a valid shot.  Don’t try something for a week or two and think it did not work. Exercise, weight loss, and athletic performance simply do not work like that.  Neither does health.

All of these things take consistency.  You must do the right things… long enough…  and “long enough” is for the rest of your life.

Sometimes reality can be a little harsh, but the alternative is much worse. J

Science Update:

Nerve Transfer Surgery A

Success If Done Soon Enough

Modern medical science and technology have come a long way.  Now there is a medical procedure called nerve transfer.

Nerve transfer is a surgical technique that may be used when a patient has a nerve injury resulting in complete loss of muscle function or sensation.

Nerve transfers involve taking nerves with less important roles, or branches of a nerve that performs redundant functions to other nerves, and “transferring” them to restore function in a more crucial nerve that has been severely damaged. The surgeon will use functioning nerves that are close to the target muscle or sensory area, and these nerves are transferred or “plugged in” to the injured nerve that no longer functions. The nerve that has been “plugged in” now supplies that function.

Time Is Of The Essence

According to Science Daily, “Nerve injuries requiring nerve transfer can be caused by many things such as accidents, sports or surgeries. Once a nerve is cut from a muscle, it has to be reinnervated within about 18 months before the muscle atrophies. Since nerves only regenerate one millimeter per day, sometimes they cannot regenerate and reach the muscle before it wastes away.”

Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Weill Cornell Medical College and Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Steven Lee adds, “It has been shown that if you do nerve reconstruction work and surgery before six months after a nerve is severed, then patients do far better… If it has been more than 18 months, even if the nerve regeneration length is two centimeters, it may still be too late.”

 

And don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.

Inspirational Story Of The Month

(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)

 

One Human, One Animal

Two heartwarming and motivational stories you may find hard to believe…

 

In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) came out with a shocking statistic: More than 350 million people suffer from depression globally.

“It is not a disease of developed countries, it is a global phenomenon. It’s present in both genders and in rich and poor populations,” Dr. Shekhar Saxena, head of the WHO’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Department, told reporters in Geneva.

Researchers claim that nearly 1 million people take their lives every year and more than half of them suffer from depression.

That’s why it is important to hear about people like Chuck Pagano. Chuck is the Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts and was hospitalized with leukemia the week before his team’s 4th game in the NFL this season.  Chuck sent a letter (email) to his team that showed his true character. The email told them to focus on their task at hand and not on him.

Here is a portion of the letter:

 

My condition will not determine my position. I understand the condition but choose to focus on my position. That is to stay positive and SERVE.

 

WE WILL, WE CAN, WE MUST. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. WE WILL OVERCOME.  IT’S ALL IN THE PROPER STATE OF MIND.

 

There is no better owner in the NFL, period! He has built an organization based on Faith, Family and Football. Don’t ever mistake the ORDER.

 

We all have a job to do. We know and understand that. That’s why we signed up for it. We knew there were going to be tough times. This is not for everybody, but I know deep in my heart we are all here because we’re supposed to be.

 

Focus on being .500 by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Nothing else. LASER SHARP FOCUS. That has to be our mindset.  60 minutes, all you got, one play at a time!  WIN!

 

His team won in dramatic fashion, and the owner offered Chuck the game ball.  Chuck declined because it was not supposed to be about him.

Now for one of the most touching animal stories EVER…

Capitán is a German Shepherd that lives in Argentina.  Capitán may also be the most loyal dog that ever lived.  Here is why…

In 2006, Capitán’s owner, Manuel Guzman, died, and Capitán ran away from home. A week later, Guzman’s family found Capitán at his owner’s gravesite… heartbroken.  No one had ever taken Capitán to the gravesite; he found it all by himself.

Since then, every day for 6 years, Capitán spends most of his time in the cemetery near his master’s grave. The cemetery director has been feeding and taking care of loyal Capitán. According to the cemetery director, “During the day, he sometimes takes a walk around the cemetery, but always rushes back to the grave.  And every day, at 6:00 p.m. sharp, he lies down on top of the grave and stays there all night.”

 

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better!  We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!  Don’t be a stranger.  You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!


Did You Know?…

Herbs and Spices

 

Herbs and spices contain various disease fighting compounds. That is why they have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Here are four herbs and spices that are beneficial for your taste buds and body:

  • Cinnamon contains iron, calcium, manganese, and fiber, and can be used to temper sugar cravings. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Try cinnamon in coffee, on fruit, or on a baked sweet potato.
  • Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which increases metabolism and satiety in addition to triggering proteins in fat to break fat down, showing great potential for those with body re-composition goals. Chili peppers also increase the resistance to harmful bacteria in stomach cells, which may decrease the risk of developing an ulcer.
  • Ginger is a proven way to settle a sick stomach. Ginger can also relieve cough and congestion symptoms thanks to the phytochemicals shogaol and zingerone. Ginger has also shown the ability to reduce muscle ache, decrease arthritis pain, and potentially fight various cancers. Some ways to utilize ginger: put in tea, soup, or a stir-fry.
  • Rosemary works perfectly in meat marinades. Due to its antioxidant content, rosemary has been shown to prevent the formation carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines in meat when the cooking method is broiling, grilling, or frying.

 

Tip Of The Month

Can Eating Cherries Lower Gout Risk?

 

If you suffer from gout, you are going to like this information. Gout is a kind of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in blood and causes joint inflammation. Chronic gout is repeated episodes of pain and inflammation which may involve more than one joint. If too much uric acid builds up in the fluid around the joints (synovial fluid), uric acid crystals form. These crystals cause the joint to swell up and can be extremely painful.  That’s why the findings of a new study published by the American College of Rheumatology are so promising. The lead author, Dr. Yuqing Zhang, Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Boston University and colleagues, recruited 633 gout patients who were followed online for one year. Participants were asked about the date of gout onset, symptoms, medications, and risk factors. Researchers also asked about cherry and cherry extract intake in the two days prior to a gout attack. A cherry serving was one half cup or 10 to 12 cherries.  According to the study, “Cherry intake over a 2-day period was associated with a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared with no intake.”

 

New research shows our ancient ancestors were eating meat 1.5 million years ago!

 

There is a debate raging in the diet and nutrition world.  Some claim eating meat is healthy and others say it is not.  The purpose of this information is to inform you and not to make a decision for you.  According to a study that was published October 3 in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, “Meat-eating was an important factor affecting early hominin brain expansion, social organization and geographic movement.”

Researchers used skull fragments found by anthropologists in Tanzania to show that our ancient ancestors were eating meat at least 1.5 million years ago. “Meat eating has always been considered one of the things that made us human, with the protein contributing to the growth of our brains,” said Charles Musiba, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Colorado, Denver, who helped make the discovery. “Our work shows that 1.5 million years ago we were not opportunistic meat eaters, we were actively hunting and eating meat.”  Authors of the study also noted, “This discovery highlights that by at least 1.5 million years ago, early human physiology was already adapted to a diet that included the regular consumption of meat.”

 

 

Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal

and maintain the pain free body you deserve.

 

 

This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice.  Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know by calling 281-286-1300 or contact us @ [email protected]. .

Dr Beecher’s December 3 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter

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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE

Week of Monday, December 3rd, 2012

 

Mental Attitude: What You See Is What You Like. After viewing images of successful women with varying body sizes, women who had strongly preferred only thin body types now had more favorable attitudes towards other body shapes. PLoS One, November 2012

 

Health Alert: Children, Cars and Second-Hand Smoke. Just ten minutes in the back seat of a car with a smoker in the front seat increased a child’s exposure to harmful pollutants by 30%, even with the front windows completely rolled down. British Medical Journal, November 2012

 

Diet: Cholesterol and Probiotics. Two daily doses (200mg) of a probiotics lowered “bad” (LDL) and total cholesterol in study participants. Probiotics are live microorganisms (naturally occurring bacteria in the gut) thought to have beneficial effects. Common sources are yogurt or dietary supplements. Those taking the probiotics had LDL levels 11.6% lower than those on placebo after nine weeks.

American Heart Association, November 2012

 

Exercise: Belly Fat and Sleep Quality? Losing weight can directly aid in improving sleep quality among

obese or overweight people. Sleep quality was meaningfully associated with weight loss, either from changes in diet or a healthy diet combined with exercise. Sleep quality improvement was also observed with a loss in belly fat. With an average loss of 15 pounds and 15% belly fat, sleep scores improved by 20%. Chronic sleep disruptions can elevate the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and stroke.

American Heart Association, November 2012

 

Chiropractic: Spinal Degenerative Joint Disease. Spinal DJD (degenerative joint disease) occurs in most people as early as 40 years of age. The degeneration is due to gravity, major traumas, and repetitive micro- traumas (activities of daily living). Once the spine degenerates, simple mechanical compression (moving) can change nerve impulses, and the central nervous system may interpret that as pain. Pain, 1977

 

Wellness/Prevention: Sleep and The Immune System. Sleep deprivation increases the risk for developing inflammation related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and diabetes.

Biological Psychiatry, September 2008

 

Quote: “Never confuse motion with action.” ~ 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 .