iBlog

Week of Monday, February 13th, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Emotions Not On My Sleeve? Contrary to what many scientists think, all people do not have the same set of biologically "basic" emotions and those emotions are not automatically expressed on the face. People do not scowl only when they're angry or pout only when they're sad. For example, people do a lot of things when they're angry, sometimes they yell and sometimes they smile. Current Directions in Psychological Science, Jan 2012

Health Alert: Ten Ways To Decrease Cancer Risk! 1.) Max BMI of 25; 2.) 5 or more servings of fruits & veggies daily; 3.) 7 or more portions of complex carbs daily; 4.) decrease processed foods & refined sugars; 5.) limit alcoholic drinks to 1/day for women and 2/day for men; 6.) limit red meat to no more than 3 oz daily; 7.) decrease fatty foods, particularly animal fats; 8.) limit intake of salted foods & use of salt in cooking; 9.) eliminate tobacco use; 10.) practice sun safety/recognize skin changes. American Cancer Society

Diet: Soy And Hot Flash. According to a placebo-controlled study, daily doses of a soy germ-based nutritional supplement containing S-equol decreased menopausal symptoms 59%, including significantly reducing hot flash frequency after 12 weeks. It is believed that S-equol, produced from the isoflavone daidzein during the fermentation of soy germ, interacts with specific estrogen receptors to promote the improvement in menopausal symptoms. Journal of Women's Health, Jan 2012

Exercise: Colds And Exercise. Different levels of exercise can significantly increase or decrease your chances of catching a cold. If you tend to be a couch potato, then you will catch 2-3 colds per year, on average. Regular moderate exercise can reduce the risk of catching cold-like infections by 33% (this effect has been shown to be the result of the cumulative effect of exercise leading to long-term improvement in immunity). Prolonged strenuous exercise, such as marathons, can make an individual more susceptible to catching colds. We are constantly exposed to viruses, but it is our immune system that determines whether we get sick or not. Association for Science Education Conference, Jan 2012

Chiropractic: Avoid Surgery? A patient with a symptomatic lumbar disk herniation should consider spinal manipulation before surgery. JMPT, Oct 2010

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Rates Dropping. In the last 20 years, one million deaths from cancer have been avoided. From 1990-2008, death rates dropped 23% in males and 15% in females. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Jan 2012

Quote: “There are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something.” ~Thomas A. Edison

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Week of Monday, February 6th, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Sleeping Problems? People who are poor sleepers exert a ton of energy trying to force sleep. Sleep is something that has to naturally unfold, so the more you engage in behaviors to try to sleep, the less likely you're going to fall asleep. Behavior Therapy, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Acid Reflux Up! Reports of acid reflux experienced at least once a week have increased by 47% in the last decade. The prevalence of any acid reflux symptoms rose 30%, while the more severe symptoms rose by 24%. There is concern that these findings will lead to an increase in cancer of the esophagus, a once rare but now more common malignancy that is very difficult to treat. Acid reflux, also known as gastro-esophageal reflux, is where the stomach contents (food and acidic digestive juices) escape upward into the esophagus. This can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn and other symptoms. Being overweight is a risk factor for acid reflux. Gut, Dec 2011

Diet: Depression And Vitamin D. Because depression affects one in 10 adults in the US and low levels of Vitamin D have been linked to depression, researchers suggest that screening for vitamin D levels in depressed patients and perhaps screening for depression in people with low vitamin D levels might be useful. Vitamin D levels are now commonly tested during routine physical exams, and they are accepted as risk factors for a number of other medical problems such as autoimmune diseases; heart and vascular disease; infectious diseases; osteoporosis; obesity; diabetes; certain cancers; and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis, and general cognitive decline. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Jan 2012

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise helps to alleviate depression and increases your ability to adapt to cold environments. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: What Did He Say? “The quality of healing is directly proportional to the functional capability of the central nervous system to send and receive nerve messages.” ~ Janson Edwards, MD. PhD

Wellness/Prevention: Don’t Smoke, Be Happy! Smokers have concerns that their quality of life may deteriorate if they stop smoking. However, a study found, in the long term, smokers who successfully quit experience no such deterioration due to quitting. If anything, they see some noticeable improvements. Specifically, compared with those who continued to smoke, quitters scored higher on measures of overall quality of life, health-related quality of life and positive emotions, both one year and three years on. They also felt they had fewer stressors by the third year. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Jan 2012

Quote: “Without Chiropractic I never would have won.” ~ Lance Armstrong

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Week of Monday, January 30th, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Do Video Games Enhance Cognitive Abilities? In a recent study, it was demonstrated that there is little solid evidence that games enhance cognition at all. On the other hand, it may be the people who have these enhanced abilities are more likely to play video games. Frontiers in Psychology, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Diabetes Worldwide! There are 366 million diabetics worldwide and 4.6 million die each year from the disease. In the US, 8.3% or 25.8 million children and adults have diabetes, with 79 million having prediabetes. Diabetes Atlas, Nov 2011 & American Diabetes Association, 2011

Diet: Remember Cholesterol. High cholesterol levels may be associated with a greater incidence of brain plaques, a marker for Alzheimer's disease. Neurology, Sept 2011

Exercise: Wide Waists Trim Lifespan. Since the mid-1970s, when Harvard published "The Nurses Study," we've been told women with waists over 40 inches raised their risk of early death by 40% vs. women who maintained waists in the 26-27 inch measure. Pounds add up. Studies show that obesity is starting earlier than ever. 18% of children ages 12-18 are reported as being obese and 66% of baby boomers (81 million born between 1946-1964) are either obese or overweight. New England Journal of Medicine, Sept 2011

Chiropractic: Chiropractic and the NFL. All 32 teams in the National Football League offer their players and personnel chiropractic physician services for both managing and preventing injuries. Professional Football Chiropractic Society

Wellness/Prevention: Too Much Booze, You Lose. Men are more likely to binge drink than women. Research shows that drinking even a small amount of alcohol increases cancer risks, though moderate amounts of alcohol can show cardiovascular benefits that outweigh such risks. Men can play it safe by having no more than two alcoholic drinks per day. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Quote: “A revolution is coming - a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough - but a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character, we cannot alter its inevitability.” ~ President John F. Kennedy

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Week of Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: A Good Laugh. When we laugh heartily among friends, we exhale repeatedly without drawing breath. This physical effort leaves us exhausted and triggers the release of protective endorphins, one of the complex neuropeptide chemicals of the brain that regulate pain and promote feelings of wellbeing. Watching 15 minutes of comedy in the company of others can increase your pain threshold by an average of 10%. Laughter is 30 times more likely to happen when we are with others than when we are alone. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Antibiotic Resistance. Overexposure to antibiotics has long been a concern in the medical community, most specifically the development of antibiotic resistant infections as a result of repeated use. Ophthalmologic antibiotics have been found to promote antimicrobial resistance too, prompting a call from Vanderbilt Eye Institute physicians to be more judicial in the administration of certain classes of antibiotics. Archives of Ophthalmology, Dec 2011

Diet: Protect Your Bones. A calorie-restricted diet higher in protein (mostly from dairy foods) and lower in carbohydrates, coupled with daily exercise, demonstrated a major positive impact on bone health. Bone health improvements were particularly evident due to the diet's high density of bone-supporting nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D and dairy-based protein. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dec 2011

Exercise: It’s Harder To Run As You Age. Runners who find it more difficult to run as they age can make the experience easier on themselves by adding strength training and flexibility exercises to their fitness routine. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Dec 2011

Chiropractic: Bad Posture. Asymmetries in posture and motion can cause tethering, the adverse prolonged stretching of the central nervous system. This can result in spinal cord ischemia (lack of blood flow) and consequently motor, sensory, and autonomic neurological dysfunction. Tethering of the spinal cord has been linked to demylenating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Koch, 2002

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention In Your 50s. Cancer is more likely to show up in men over 50 years old. That's why the majority of cancer screening exams begin at age 50. Finding and treating cancer as early as possible is one of the best ways to beat this disease. In the case of prostate cancer (the most common cancer in men), treating the disease at an early stage means men may be less likely to experience long-term side effects, like impotence. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Quote: “Money cannot buy health.” ~ Dorothy Parker

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Week of Monday, January 16th, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Watch This! A study compared mother-child communication while watching TV to reading books and the impact of each on child development. Watching TV led to less interaction between parent and child, with a detrimental impact on literacy and language skills. The team found that when reading a book with their children, parents used a more active communication style, bringing the child into contact with words they may not hear in every day speech, thereby improving their vocabulary and knowledge of grammar. Human Communication Research, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Hard To Swallow. 70,000 emergency visits each year are due to unintentional overdoses by children under the age of 18. Alarmed by this statistic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set up the PROTECT Initiative, a collaboration of public health agencies, private sector companies, professional organizations, consumer/patient advocates and academic experts to stop unintended medication overdose in children. The study found that of the cases of accidental poisoning in young children in the United States, exposure to prescription medications accounts for 55% of emergency visits, 76% of admissions and 71% of significant harm.  Journal of Pediatrics, Dec 2011

Diet: Have A Beer? Beer containing 5% alcohol and consumed at the rate of one pint a day compares to wine regarding positive effects on cardiovascular health. The study emphasizes that there is no place for binge drinking or any other form of heavy consumption. European Journal of Epidemiology, Dec 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise increases your maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max-perhaps the best measure of your physical working capacity of your lungs). Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Pain and Posture. Patients demonstrating postural instability (body swaying while standing upright) are more likely to suffer from chronic neck or back pain. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, May 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention In Your 40s. As we age, our metabolism decreases, especially as we reach age 40! Making healthy food choices and staying active every day can help keep off unwanted pounds that may raise the risk of cancer. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Quote: “Come to think of it attention to health is life's greatest hindrance.” ~ Plato

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Week of Monday, January 9th, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: I Can’t Remember. Older individuals' complaints about memory lapses (such as trouble remembering recent events) may indicate they are experiencing cognitive problems that are greater than typical age-related changes. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is expected to rise in the United States as adults 65 and older are projected to double in number over the next two decades. Clinicians are now incorporating cognitive screening tests as part of annual wellness visits for older people. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Nov 2011

Health Alert: Low-Dose Aspirin. The risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding needs to be considered when determining the potential preventive benefits associated with low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease and cancer. The risk is increased with the use of cardiovascular disease-preventing therapies. Low-dose aspirin is defined as 75 to 325 mg. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dec 2011

Diet: Soda Consumption. The average American drinks 44.7 gallons of soda a year. That much soda weighs about 375 pounds! AdAge, Dec 2011

Exercise: Benefits For Breast Cancer Survivors. For breast cancer survivors, the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks, including those who develop lymphedema, a chronic swelling that commonly occurs after breast cancer treatment. Balance the pros and cons of the activity one chooses, but keep in mind that even remaining sedentary has risks and being active is beneficial in many ways, including possibly reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, December 2011

Chiropractic: Nerve Interference. The pressure caused by just the weight of just one United States quarter on a spinal nerve can decrease nerve transmission by as much as 60%. Chang Ha Suh, PhD

Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention In Your 30s. One begins to lose muscle mass after age 30. Strength training can prevent muscle loss, build bone density and help the body burn calories faster to keep you at a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight can help decrease the risk of cancer. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nov 2011

Quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” ~ Jackie Robinson

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Week of Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Purchases That Make Your Mouth Water. In certain situations, people actually salivate when they desire material things, like money and sports cars. Merely being exposed to the concept of money has been shown to have dramatic effects on behavior, and it has even been argued that money can be conceptualized as a drug in that it imitates the action of biological incentives in driving behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, Dec 2011

Health Alert: Uninsured! Approximately 50.2 million Americans live without health insurance. U.S. Census Bureau, Sept 2011

Diet: Fish And Alzheimer's Risk. 5.1 million people in the US have Alzheimer's disease. Eating fish once a week is good for brain health, as well as lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. This is the first study to establish a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer's risk. Consuming baked or broiled fish promotes stronger neurons in the brain's gray matter by making them larger and healthier. This simple lifestyle choice increases the brain's resistance to Alzheimer's disease and lowers risk for the disorder. Eating dried or fried fish does not seem to help preserve brain volume or lower Alzheimer's risk. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dec 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise helps prevent intestinal ulcers. It also increases the density and breaking strength of ligaments, tendons and the disks of your spine. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Ringing In The Ears. Patients with somatosensory tinnitus may find relief from cervical adjustments. Clinics, Feb 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Probiotics. The average American experiences two to six colds each year, usually mild viral infections that resolve themselves after a few days. Probiotics seems to provide both children and adults with protection against many upper respiratory tract infections, including the common cold. People who consume probiotics are also less likely to end up taking prescription antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection. Probiotics are found in fermented foods like yogurt, soy yogurt, kefir and in supplement form. The Cochrane Library, Dec 2011

Quote: “The trouble about always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind.” ~ G. K. Chesterton

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Week of Monday, December 26th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Resist Temptation? How do you defeat the impulse to gratify desire and stick to your long-term goals of slimness or sobriety? Just say, “no thanks” and move on. Don't stop and think about it. The presence of temptation twists your cognitive abilities in ways that promote impulsive behavior. Psychological Science, Oct 2011

Health Alert: Prescription Painkiller Abuse Epidemic! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdoses involving prescription painkillers have tripled in the past 10 years and now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. A significant proportion of deaths are from people who obtain prescription painkillers without a prescription and use them for recreational use. CDC Vital Signs, Oct 2011

Diet: The Skinny On Coffee. The more coffee an adult drinks, the lower the risk seems to be for developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a common type of skin cancer. Women who had at least 3 cups of coffee daily had a 20% lower chance of developing BCC, compared to those who consumed less than one cup per month. Men who consumed at least three cups of coffee per day had a 9% lower risk of BCC. Harvard Medical School, Oct 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise gives you more energy to meet the demands of daily life, and provides you with a reserve to meet the demands of unexpected emergencies. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Posture and Health. Posture and normal physiology are interrelated. Posture affects and moderates every physiological function from breathing to hormonal production. Abnormal posture is evident in patients with chronic and stress related illnesses. Observe people over 50 and you will see that people with bad posture look unhealthy. American Journal of Pain Management, 1994

Wellness/Prevention: Preventable Strokes. One in six people will suffer a stroke and someone dies from a stroke every 6 seconds. 85% of these people have risk factors that can prevent a stroke, if identified. 6 steps to reduce stroke risk: 1) Learn the warning signs of a stroke: sudden numbness, in particular if it only affects one side of the body, loss of balance or sudden vertigo, sudden difficulty in speaking or seeing, and severe headaches with no apparent cause. 2) Check your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and diabetes. 3) Exercise regularly and keep physically active. 4) Eat a healthy diet and avoid becoming obese. 5) Avoid cigarette smoke and seek help to stop if you are a smoker. 6) Restrict your alcohol consumption. World Stroke Organization, Oct 2011

Quote: “To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” ~ Gautama the Buddha, 563 BC

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Week of: Monday, December 19th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: A Long, Happy Life. Older people have a 35% lower chance of dying if they are content, excited or happy during their typical day. This was true even after taking into account such factors as a person’s financial situation, physical health, mental health, chronic disease, physical activity, alcohol intake, depression and age. Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, Oct 2011

Health Alert: For The Young. The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the world's largest non-governmental organization working in sexual and reproductive health, is calling to renew the focus on young people's reproductive health. Currently, 16 million adolescent girls become mothers every year and almost 40% of the 6,800 new HIV infections each day are among young people. International Planned Parenthood Federation, Oct 2011

Diet: Alcohol, Good Or Bad? Red wine has been shown in many studies to benefit the immune system and cardiovascular system, but women who drink even moderately (as few as three drinks a week) increase their risk of breast cancer. Women who abstain from all alcohol may find that a potential benefit of lower breast cancer is more than offset by the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Harvard Medical School, Oct 2011

Exercise: Obesity Gene's Effect Reduced By Exercise. With exercise and a physically active lifestyle, the genetic predisposition to obesity caused by the 'fat mass and obesity associated' (FTO) gene can be significantly reduced. The effect of the FTO gene on obesity risk is 27% weaker among physically active adults, compared to those who are physically inactive. These findings challenge the common excuse that “obesity is in my genes.” PLoS Medicine, Oct 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Remember Your Fluids. Drinking plenty of fluids may provide men with protection against bladder cancer as the fluids may flush out potential carcinogens before they have the opportunity to cause tissue damage that could lead to the cancer. High total fluid intake (more than 2,531 milliliters per day) was associated with a 24% reduced risk for bladder cancer among men. Cancer Prevention Research, Oct 2011

Quote: “In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties.” ~ Henri-Frederic Amiel

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Week of Monday, December 12th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Brain Games. Researchers have found risk/reward scenarios (such as playing games) stimulate nearly all areas of the brain. Since the brain’s primary purpose is to maximize our chance of survival and reproduction, it makes sense reward should be important for all cognitive functions, and thus most brain regions. Neuron, Oct 2010

Health Alert: Antibiotics. After 70 years, antibiotics are still the primary treatment for bacterial infections. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance is now outpacing the rate of new drug discovery and approval. The economic costs and health threats of antibiotic resistance have become so serious that the World Health Organization dedicated World Health Day to call global attention to the issue. Antibiotics are routinely sprayed on crops and fed to livestock, which helps cause antibiotic resistant bacteria to develop. That antibiotic resistance is then transferred to humans when they eat the food containing the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is resistant to a broad range of antibiotics, causes infections in people with compromised immune systems, such as HIV and cancer patients. It's also responsible for hospital-related infections such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia and infections from burns. The fatality rate is about 50%. Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections by P. aeruginosa alone cost more than $3.5 billion a year in the US. WHO, Oct 2011

Diet: A Slice Of Watermelon! Watermelon reduces atherosclerosis in animals. The study involved mice with diet-induced high cholesterol. By week 8, animals given watermelon juice had lower body weight, due to decreased fat mass. They experienced no decrease in lean mass. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower, with modestly reduced intermediate and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. University of Kentucky, Oct 2011

Exercise: Reduces Productivity? Exercise may reduce work productivity in employees with high stress jobs. The study’s authors recommend employees with more stressful jobs utilize other techniques to manage stress. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Oct 2011

Chiropractic: Yoga & Low Back Pain. A 12-week yoga program for adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain improved back function better than back pain education booklets. Annals Of Internal Medicine, Nov 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Stop Smoking! Smokers are twice as likely to have strokes, and on average, they have them 10 years earlier than non-smokers. Heart and Stroke Foundation, Oct 2011

Quote: “You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it.” ~ Bill Cosby

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Week of: Monday, December 5th, 2011

Courtesy of: Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Commuting To Work Is Bad For Your Health! Spending hours each day behind the wheel or crammed in a public train or bus, commuting to and from work is bad for your health. Those who commuted reported more everyday stress, exhaustion, missed work days and generally poorer health. Those with longer commutes reported even worse health. Duke University, Oct 2011

Health Alert: Under Construction! Nearly all construction workers will experience one or more work-related injuries or illnesses over a lifetime, plus a greater risk of premature death. Over a 45-year career, a construction worker has a 75% chance of a disabling injury, and a one in 200 chance of being fatally injured on the job. An individual who begins construction work at the age of 20 has a 15% chance of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and an 11% chance of developing dust-related parenchymal chest X-ray changes. Center for Construction Research and Training, Oct 2011

Diet: Strawberries & Stomach Ulcers. Scientists discovered strawberry consumption might help reduce and or slow the formation of stomach ulcers caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like aspirin and ibuprofen. Plos One, Oct 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise helps speed recovery from chemotherapy treatments, increases the ability to supply blood to the skin for cooling and increases the thickness of the cartilage in your joints. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Wound Healing & Mechanical Stress. Exerting mechanical forces on an injury site immediately after healing begins significantly inhibits vascular growth into the bone defect region. However, after healing is underway, introducing mechanical forces on the injury site can lead to a more robust vascular network. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Oct 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Cranberry Juice vs. Cranberry Extracts. Cranberries have been recognized for their health benefits for years, especially in preventing urinary tract infections. However, it was found that drinking actual cranberry juice is much more effective in preventing a Urinary Tract Infection than simply consuming cranberry extracts. Food Science and Biotechnology, Oct 2011

Quote: “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Week of Monday, November 28th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: That’s Life. Our life experiences (the ups, downs and everything in between) shape us, stay with us and influence our emotional set point as adults. By studying identical twins and monitoring them as their life paths diverged, researchers discovered life experiences are important influences on our levels of anxiety and depression. With diet, we say, “you are what you eat.” This study shows “you are what you have experienced.” Virginia Commonwealth University, Oct 2011

Health Alert: Drunk Drivers! During the past year in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control estimates there were 112 million incidents of adults getting behind the wheel of their car while under the influence of alcohol. That's 300,000 a day! These people put everyone on the road at risk. 11,000 people are killed every year in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. CDC, Oct 2011

Diet: Thin Children? Children with thinner parents are 3 times more likely to be thin than children whose parents are overweight. When both parents were in the thinner half of the healthy-weight range, the chance of the child being thin was 16.2%, compared with 7.8% when both parents were in the upper half of the healthy weight range, 5.3% with two overweight parents, and only 2.5% for children with two obese parents. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Sept 2011

Exercise: Vigorous Exercise. Men who perform vigorous exercise 3 times a week have a 22% lower risk of heart attack. Researchers believe the vigorous exercise results in higher HDL-C ("good" cholesterol) levels, known to lower the risk of heart disease. American College of Sports Medicine, Oct 2011

Chiropractic: Total Regeneration. According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., "98% of the atoms in your body were not there a year ago." With that concept in mind, taking care of your body is essential as it is a constant state of regeneration. Through proper diet, regular exercise, getting enough rest, maintaining low stress levels and proper chiropractic care, you can give your body the best opportunity to be healthy and stay healthy.

Wellness/Prevention: Kids, Stay Thin! If your children are overweight or obese, their risk of having high blood pressure is almost three times higher than children at normal weight. Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, Oct 2011

Quote: “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” ~ Bill Gates

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Week of Monday, November 21st, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: When You’re Hot, You’re Hot! When an athlete is doing well, commentators may describe him as being "hot" or "on fire." Scientists have generally thought such streaks were, primarily, in the eye of the beholder... until now. After an analysis of five years of NBA free throws (over 300,000), researchers believe they have observed the so-called "hot hand" phenomenon: that a streak of positive outcomes is likely to continue. This phenomenon had largely been considered a product of human perception since its coining in 1985 but it appears commentators and fans were right after all. PLoS ONE, Sept 2011

Health Alert: Risk Of Undetected Strokes! 95% of people aged 65 and older have brain small vessel disease. 25% of healthy seniors (average age 70) have evidence of small, silent strokes. Microbleeds, another type of small vessel disease, are associated with high blood pressure and with Alzheimer's disease. Unlike major stroke events, these types of small vessel disease gradually build up and increase the risk of clinical stroke events, depression, falls and Alzheimer's dementia. Canadian PURE MIND, Aug 2011

Diet: Get Your Vitamin D! More than three-quarters of cancer patients have insufficient levels of vitamin D and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancer. The five most common primary diagnoses were breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and colorectal cancer. 77% of patients had vitamin D concentrations either deficient or sub-optimal. American Society for Radiation Oncology, Oct 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise helps the body resist upper respiratory tract infections, increases your anaerobic threshold (allowing you to work or exercise longer at a higher level, before a significant amount of lactic acid builds up), helps to preserve lean body tissue, and improves ability to recover from physical exertion. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care Safe? The rate of mild adverse events (irritability or soreness lasting less than 24 hours, resolving without the need for additional care) among chiropractic pediatric patients receiving Pediatric Manipulative Therapy (PMT) is .53% -1%. The incidence rate for PMT delivered by Medical Physicians is 6%, and 9% from Osteopaths. Clinical Chiropractic, Sept 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Men Stay Lean! Men develop type 2 diabetes at a lower body mass index than do women (33.69 vs. 31.83). Scottish Diabetes Research Network, Sept 2011

Quote: “I'm very pleased to be here. At my age I'm very pleased to be anywhere.” ~ George Burns

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Week of Monday, November 14th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: More Vacations? Researches claim vacations help us recharge our batteries and perform at a higher level once we return to work. However, because the after-effects are short-lived, we should take trips more frequently in order to keep our levels of health and well-being high. The Psychologist, Aug 2011

Health Alert: Over Spending? Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine found $6.7 billion was spent in one year for unnecessary tests or prescribing unnecessary medications, with 86% of that cost attributed to the prescription of brand-name statins to treat high cholesterol. Archives of Internal Medicine, Oct 2011

Diet: Iron Man? The right amount of iron is needed for proper cell function, but too much may lead to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Men typically have more iron in their bodies than women, which may be why men develop these age-related neurodegenerative diseases at a younger age. (Younger women’s iron levels are thought to be lower because of menstruation.) To reduce iron levels: decrease over-the-counter supplements that contain iron, unless doctor recommended; eat less red meat; donate blood; and take natural iron-chelating substances that bind to and remove iron (such as curcumin or green tea). Neurobiology of Aging, Oct 2011

Exercise: Music To The Ears. Researchers found listening to music (in this case Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”) while exercising improved participants’ mental agility. The study’s author, Charles Emery, believes all types of music can produce a similar effect, no just classical. ABC News, April 2011

Chiropractic: Brain Activity And Chronic Low Back Pain. A new imaging technique, arterial spin labeling, shows the areas of the brain that are activated when low back pain worsens in chronic pain patients. This is a first step towards objectively describing chronic pain, normally a subjective experience. When a patient has worsening of their usual pain, there are changes in the activity of the brain in the areas that process pain and mood. Anesthesiology, August 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Breastfed Babies. Babies fed only breast milk up to the age of six months have a lower risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early childhood. Compared to children who were breastfed for 6 months or more, children who had never received breast milk had an increased risk of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough and persistent phlegm in their first 4 years. European Respiratory Journal, July 2011

Quote: “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

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Week of Monday, November 7th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Remember Zinc. For over 50 years, scientists have known zinc plays a vital role in the brain but were not quite sure what that role is. Now, researchers from the Duke University Medical Center and MIT have discovered that zinc regulates the communication between neurons in the hippocampus, where learning and memory processes occur. Neuron, Aug 2011

Health Alert: Health Costs Rising! According to experts, healthcare spending will grow 6% each year through 2020. Researchers estimate that doctor visits, clinical services and prescription drugs will be the largest growth areas. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Diet: Where to Eat? As childhood obesity rises and the American diet shifts towards increasing consumption of foods eaten or prepared outside of the home, concerns about the nutritional quality and the total consumption of such foods are also increasing. Comparing measurements from 2006 to 1977, children now eat more calories every day (+179 kcal/day). This is associated with a major increase in calories eaten away from home (+255 kcal/day). The percentage of calories eaten away from home is now 33.9%.  Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Aug 2011

Exercise: Strong Arm Diabetes. Building muscle can lower your insulin resistance risk, thus lowering your chance of developing Type-2 Diabetes. Scientists have known for a while that low muscle mass raises the risk of insulin resistance; however, no study had attempted to figure out whether increased muscle, regardless of obesity levels, might improve blood glucose control. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2011

Chiropractic: Hall of Fame Help. During his playing career, NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana said, “I’ve been seeing a Chiropractor and he’s really been helping me a lot. Chiropractic’s a big part of my game.”

Wellness/Prevention: Blueberries And Cancer. Eating as little as a cup of blueberries every day may help prevent cell damage linked to cancer. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Sept 2011

Quote: “Nature, time and patience are three great physicians.” ~ H.G. Bohn

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Week of: Monday, October 31st, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic 

Mental Attitude: Friendships & Anxiety. Anxious, solitary kids are more emotionally sensitive and more likely to be excluded and victimized by their peers. They're also less likely to have friends, and when they do, to have fewer than their peers and to lose friendships over time. Child Development, Sept 2011 

Health Alert: Obesity Costs! States spend up to $15 billion a year in medical expenses related to obesity. Estimates in dollars range from $203 million in Wyoming to $15.2 billion in California. National costs of obesity are $147 billion. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Sept 2011 

Diet: Wine & Dementia Risk. Moderate wine drinkers are 23% less likely to develop dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease. Resveratrol, found in fairly high levels in wine, is a naturally occurring antioxidant that decreases the stickiness of blood platelets and helps blood vessels remain open and flexible. It also inhibits enzymes that can stimulate cancer cell growth and suppress immune response. Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise decreases the rate of joint degeneration in people with osteoarthritis, lowers your resting heart rate, helps to boost creativity and reduces circulating levels of triglycerides. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: What Does Double Crush Mean? If there is irritation of a nerve root at the vertebra of the neck, or at the triangle formed between the scalene muscles and the first rib, the nerve itself becomes “sick.” As that nerve passes into the arm, it passes through several muscles before it enters the hand, beneath the transverse carpal ligament. If the nerve is already “sick,” the “secondary stress” of compression within the arm muscles, or at the wrist, may cause regional symptoms at that location. We call that second insult to the nerve a “double crush” phenomenon. 

Wellness/Prevention: Four Ways To Live Longer. Those who practice all 4 are 66% less likely to die early from cancer, 65% less likely to die early from a major cardiovascular disease, and 57% less likely to die early from other causes.

 

1. Avoid Tobacco.
2. Limit Alcohol: Men should have no more than two drinks a day, women no more than one.
3. Improve Your Diet: Eat more fruits, eat more vegetables, eat more whole grains, switch to fat-free and low-fat dairy and eat more seafood. Cut down on salt and foods high in sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added sugar, and refined grains.
4. Exercise at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise spread over at least 5 days a week – or - do a total of 75 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 days a week or more. 

American Journal of Public Health, August 2011 

 

Quote: “Security is mostly a superstition. It doesn’t exist in nature.” ~ Helen Keller

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Week of Monday, October 24th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Don’t Look At Me! Depressed people tend to avoid eye contact in social situations and in experimental settings, whereas happy people actively seek eye contact. Sad people avoiding eye contact may lead to them shunning certain social situations. Although this may reduce anxiety caused by the situation itself, it may actually increase social isolation and deepen their already depressed mood. British Journal of Psychology, Sept 2011

Health Alert: Hospital Staff Carry MRSA Superbug. 60% of doctors' and 65% of nurses' uniforms carry dangerous bacteria. In a 2009 report, rates of postoperative sepsis, or bloodstream infections, increased by 8%; postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infections increased by 3.6%; and rates of selected infections due to medical care increased by 1.6%. 1 in 5 security cards carried by hospital doctors were contaminated with a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including the superbug MRSA, which kills thousands every year. Health and Human Services Department, 2009

Diet: Ginger Extract. Whole ginger extract has promising cancer-preventing activity in prostate cancer. Ginger extract had significant effects in stopping the growth of cancer cells, and inducing cell death in a spectrum of prostate cancer cells. Animal studies revealed the extract did not show significant toxicity to normal tissues, such as bone marrow. Research showed tumor regression up to 60%. Humans would have to consume about 3 1/2 ounces of whole ginger extract a day to get the benefits. British Journal of Nutrition, Aug 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise reduces vulnerability to various cardiac dysrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), improves the likelihood of survival from a myocardial infarction (heart attack), and helps overcome jet lag. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: What A Headache. “Cervical migraine is the type of headache most frequently seen in general practice and also the most frequently misinterpreted. It is usually erroneously diagnosed as classical migraine, tension headache, [or] vascular headache. Such patients have usually received an inadequate treatment and have often become neurotic and drug-dependent.” (Note: Manipulation is effective in patients with cervicogenic headaches.) Ragnar Frykholm, Neurosurgeon, 1972

Wellness/Prevention: Fish Oil For A Healthy Mind. Researchers found positive associations between fish oil supplements and cognitive function, as well as differences in brain structure between users and non-users of fish oil supplements. The findings suggest possible benefits of fish oil supplements on brain health and aging.  International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease

Quote: "A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." ~ Harry S. Truman

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Week of Monday, October 17th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

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

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Week of: Monday, October 10th, 2011

Courtesy of Dr. Gary Brodeur

Mental Attitude: Money Can Be Depressing? Rates of depression are higher in countries with higher per capita incomes. 121 million people worldwide have depression. Severe depression can lead to suicide and causes 850,000 deaths every year. The United Sates and France had the highest depression rates. Higher incomes can be related to more work hours and a lowered quality of life. 15% of people in high-income countries were likely to become depressed during their lifetime, compared with 11% of those in low or middle-income countries. British Medical Journal, Aug 2011

Health Alert: You Are Getting Very Sleepy. Insomnia affects 23% of US workforce, costing $63.2 billion annually. Insomnia is a condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep. It includes a wide spectrum of sleep disorders, from not enough sleep to lack of quality sleep. Sleep, Aug 2011

Diet: Bad Habits? People entering the movies were given a bucket of either just-popped, fresh popcorn or stale, week-old popcorn. Moviegoers who didn't usually eat popcorn at the movies ate much less stale popcorn than fresh popcorn. Moviegoers who typically had popcorn at the movies ate about the same amount -- regardless it was fresh or stale. When we've repeatedly eaten a food in an environment, our brain comes to associate the food with that environment and we keep eating as long as those environmental cues are present. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2011

Exercise: Runners Drinking Too Much? 50% of recreational runners may be drinking too much fluid during races. 37% of runners drink according to a preset schedule or to maintain a certain body weight and 9% drink as much as possible. Expert guidelines recommend runners drink only when thirsty. 30% incorrectly believe they need extra salt while running, and 57% drink sports drinks because the drinks have electrolytes that prevent low blood sodium. However, main cause of low sodium is drinking too much water or sports drinks during exercise, which can dilute the sodium content of blood to abnormally low levels. This can cause a potentially fatal condition called exercise-associated hyponatremia. Symptoms of hyponatremia include: nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, loss of energy, muscle weakness, spasms or cramps. In extreme cases, the condition can lead to seizures, unconsciousness and coma.  British Journal of Sports Medicine, June 2011 

Chiropractic: Careful. In work-related nonspecific low back pain, the use of health maintenance care (treatment after initial disability was resolved) provided by Physical Therapist (PT) or Medical Physician (MD) services was associated with a higher disability (injury) recurrence than in the use of Chiropractic (DC) services.  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, April 2011

Wellness/Prevention: Shorter Colds. Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of common cold episodes by 40%.  Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, Aug 2011

Quote: “A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?” ~ Albert Einstein

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Week of Monday, September 26th, 2011

Courtesy of Brodeur Family Chiropractic

Mental Attitude: Lost And Found. A new study shows the neural networks in the brains of the middle-aged and elderly have weaker connections and fire less robustly than in the young. As people age, they tend to forget things more often, are more easily distracted and disrupted by interference, and have greater difficulty with executive functions. While these age-related deficits have been known for many years, the cellular basis for these common cognitive difficulties has not been understood. Nature, July 2011

Health Alert: Patents About To Expire. By the end of 2012, 7 of the 20 top selling medications will lose their patent protection. This is a huge concern for the pharmaceutical industry since a generic drug can cost up to 80% less than the brand name version. $225 billions' worth of annual global sales of drugs will go off patent by the end of 2015. Patients, taxpayers, businesses and health insurance companies will save billions. FDA, August 2011

Diet: Where To Eat? The percentage of calories eaten away from home increased from 23-34% from 1977-2006. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, August 2011

Exercise: Good Reasons To Exercise. Exercise reduces the risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure), increases the density and breaking strength of bones, improves your physical appearance, and increases circulating levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Interesting. “Better than 90 percent of the energy output of the brain is used in relating to the physical body in its gravitational field. The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy available for thinking, metabolism and healing." ~ Roger Sperry, PhD. Medical Nobel Prize for brain research, 1981

Wellness/Prevention: Watch This! People who watch TV for 2 hours a day have a 20% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a 15% higher risk of developing fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular disease, and a 13% greater risk of dying early from any cause. Watching TV alters energy expenditure by displacing time spent on physical activities, and is associated with unhealthy eating (more fried foods, processed meats, sugary drinks and less fruits, vegetables, whole grains). On average, Americans watch TV 5 hours a day.  Journal of the American Medical Association, 2011

Quote: “Dieting is a system of starving yourself to death so you can live a little longer.” ~ Jan Murray

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