Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna
Mental Attitude: Body Weight and Dementia Risk. While being overweight is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, being underweight in old age can have a detrimental effect on the brain. In this study, which looked at data from the Gothenburg Birth Cohort Studies, researchers found that seniors with a body mass index under 20 had a greater risk for dementia than participants who maintained a healthy body weight during old age. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, May 2018
Health Alert: Marijuana and Tobacco Smoke Exposure Tied to Elevated ER Visit Risk. Children from homes in which an adult smokes either tobacco or marijuana are 24% more likely to have visited an emergency room in the previous year and twice as likely to have been diagnosed with an ear infection. The researchers say the findings should not be a surprise, as second-hand smoke has been linked to health problems in children, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma. Lead researcher Dr. Adam Johnson writes, “I think it’s going to get more and more prevalent as more states across the country start legalizing [marijuana], because it’s a big business, and there’s a lot of push to legalize recreational marijuana use.” Pediatric Academic Society, May 2018
Diet: Teens Drinking Less Soda, But More Sport Drinks. An analysis of data from surveys completed by teenagers in 2010 and 2015 found that while fewer adolescents are drinking soda, there has been a slight uptick in sugary sport drink consumption. The researchers note that most kids do not need such drinks even if they are physically active and would benefit from simply drinking water. Pediatrics, May 2018
Exercise: School Kids Not Getting Enough Exercise. University of South Carolina researchers report that among a group of 1,570 elementary school students, only 9.3% of girls and 10.4% of boys engaged more than the recommended 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, May 2018
Chiropractic: Keyboard Musicians Often Have Musculoskeletal Pain. According to a recent research review, anywhere from 25.8% to 77% of keyboard musicians suffer from musculoskeletal pain in one or more body sites, with the wrists and hands being the most affected, followed by the neck and shoulders. Further analysis showed that playing for more than 60 minutes at a time without a break and practicing for more than 20 hours a week both increased the risk of musculoskeletal discomfort among keyboard musicians. PM&R, April 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Five Steps to Living Longer. Americans can add a decade to their life expectancy with just a handful of healthy habits. The findings from two studies that followed the health habits and lifestyles of over 123,000 health professionals starting in the 1980s revealed that the five key factors for improving longevity include not smoking, eating healthy, exercising regularly, maintaining a normal weight, and drinking only in moderation. Circulation, April 2018
Quote: “Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change.”
~ Thomas Hardy
Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna