Wednesday, February 5th, 2020
Courtesy of: David Tejada, D.C. (630) 375-9444
Health Alert: Hypertension Is Major Player in Stroke Risk. An analysis of data concerning 16,892 middle aged and older adults in China suggests that hypertension may be the major contributing factor in about 23.6% of stroke cases. The findings suggest that interventions to reduce the prevalence of high blood pressure could lead to a drastic reduction in stroke incidence. BMC Neurology, January 2020
Diet: Action Needed Reduce Chronic Disease in Less Developed Nations. According to a study that looked at the dietary behavior of over 25,000 individuals from seven low- to middle-income counties, only 14% consume enough servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and two-thirds have unhealthy salt consumption. The researchers note that implementing outreach programs in developing countries to encourage eating less salt and more servings of fruits and vegetables could help alleviate the high burden of cardiovascular disease in such countries. Nutrition Journal, January 2020
Exercise: Regular Exercise Helps Keep the Aging Mind Sharp. A review of data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study concerning 2,584 older adults found that seniors who regularly exercise are much less likely to experience significant cognitive decline over a twelve-year period. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, January 2020
Chiropractic: Muscle Stiffness and Chronic Neck Pain. Chronic neck pain sufferers often perceive increased stiffness of muscles in their neck, but do they have more stiffness than individuals without neck pain? To explore this, researchers used shear wave elastography to compare the stiffness of the neck extensor muscles and stiffness in muscle-specific regions between 20 women with chronic non-specific neck pain and 18 asymptomatic controls. The results showed that muscle stiffness was similar in both groups. Furthermore, among those with neck pain, neck muscle stiffness was not correlated with the intensity of neck pain or perceived disability. Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, January 2020
Mental Attitude: Reduced Lung Function Linked to Higher Dementia Risk. A review of data from eleven published studies suggests that individuals with poor pulmonary function may have up to a 40% increased risk for dementia later in life. Chest, January 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Healthy Ways to Use Social Media. To be a healthier social media user, experts suggest the following: be aware of how social media is affecting your wellbeing; try using social media less frequently, perhaps once a week, such as having a “Facebook Friday” or “Twitter Tuesday”; if you go on daily, limit the day’s usage to 15 minutes; and only check into social media when you receive a notification. Abington Hospital, January 2020
Quote: “Talking isn’t doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.” ~ William Shakespeare