Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna
Mental Attitude: Depression Raises Dementia Risk in Type 1 Diabetics. Among a sample of 3,742 type 1 diabetics, those with depression at middle-age had a 72% increased risk for developing dementia over the next two decades. This finding is especially worrisome to researchers as 20% of participants had diagnosed depression at the onset of the study. Aging & Mental Health, April 2018
Health Alert: Childhood Friendships May Be Key to Health Later On. Your childhood best friend may have a surprising protective effect on your health in adulthood. In this study, researchers monitored the social lives of 267 individuals between age six and age sixteen and found that boys who spent more time with friends had a lower risk for high blood pressure and obesity in their early thirties. Researcher Dr. Jenny M. Cundiff notes, “These findings suggest that our early social lives may have a small protective influence on our physical health in adulthood, and it’s not just our caregivers or financial circumstances, but also our friends who may be health protective.” Psychological Science, March 2018
Diet: Veggies Are Heart Healthy for Women. Consuming vegetables can help older women keep their blood vessels healthy. In this study, researchers found that the carotid artery walls of women who ate the most vegetables were about 0.05 millimeter thinner than those who ate the fewest servings of veggies, suggesting a lower risk for heart disease. Lead researcher Dr. Lauren Blekkenhorst adds, “These findings reinforce the importance of adequate vegetable intake to reduce your risk of atherosclerosis [“hardening of the arteries”], heart attacks, and strokes.” Journal of the American Heart Association, April 2018
Exercise: Tai Chi Improve Respiratory Function for Those with COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who engaged in a twelve-week tai chi intervention experienced similar improvements on the Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire—a standard measure of health status for patients with airway obstruction—as patients in a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program. Chest, March 2018
Chiropractic: On-Call Work May Raise Risk for Back Pain and Other Problems. On-call work requires being ready to work at any time, which can be very stressful for many individuals. A recent study investigated the association between on-call work and health issues among a sample of over 29,000 men and women from a variety of industries and found that being on-call increases the risk for the following conditions: hearing problems, skin problems, back pain, muscular pain in arms and legs, headache, abdominal pain, depression and anxiety, and sleep problems. Annals of Occupational Environmental Medicine, March 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Be Aware of Gluten in Medication. Individuals who suffer from gluten intolerance or sensitivity must pay close attention to ingredients, as even a small amount of gluten can cause a reaction. Even over-the-counter and prescription meds can contain gluten. To avoid gluten in medications, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests: carefully read the ingredients on all your meds, talk to you physician about your gluten issues, and ask your pharmacist to double check ingredients on the medications you are picking up. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, March 2018
Quote: “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” ~ Dale Carnegie
Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna