Health Alert: Broken Heart Syndrome on the Rise. Broken heart syndrome is a condition triggered by
emotional or physical stress that causes the main pumping chamber of the heart to temporarily enlarge, which
can impair its function. A recent study found that cases of broken heart syndrome in the United States steadily
increased between 2006 and 2017, especially among older women. Researcher Dr. Erin Michos writes, “We
can’t avoid all stress in life, but it is important for patients to develop healthy coping mechanisms. Some
strategies include mindfulness meditation, yoga, exercise, eating healthy, getting adequate sleep, and cultivating
social relationships for support systems.” Journal of American Heart Association, October 2021
Diet: Vitamin C May Help Resolve Diabetic Foot Ulcers. One-in-four diabetics will experience a foot ulcer
in their lifetime. In a recent study, researchers observed that a daily 500 mg vitamin C supplement improved
ulcer healing in patients with suboptimal vitamin C intake. British Journal of Nutrition, November 2021
Exercise: Poor Physical Function Raises Risk for Heart Failure. Among a group of over 5,000 elderly
women with no history of heart disease, researchers observed that those who exhibited poor physical function
were over two times more likely to develop heart failure over the following eight years.
American Journal of Preventative Cardiology, August 2021
Chiropractic: Pain Affects Many Teens. Questionnaires completed by nearly 13,000 teenagers revealed that
7% of male and 19% of female adolescents experience daily pain in one or more areas of the body, which
researchers linked to an elevated risk for depressive symptoms and insufficient sleep.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy, July 2021
Mental Attitude: Sense of Purpose Benefits the Brain. The current research suggests that individuals with a
greater sense of purpose exhibit better cognitive function as they age, and they are also less likely to develop
dementia. Trends in Cognitive Science, November 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Low Vitamin D and Chronic Low Back Pain. In a recent study, researchers have
found an association between low-grade inflammation in the body and an elevated risk for chronic low back
pain in patients with poor vitamin D status. Because vitamin D can help to mitigate inflammatory processes in
the body, the findings suggest that addressing vitamin D insufficiency may be important in the management of
chronic low back pain. Pain Physician, November 2021
Quote: “Morning looks a lot like evening if you face the wrong way at the right time.” ~ Bill Bonne