DAILY HEALTH UPDATE | Thursday | November 5th, 2015
Courtesy of: Dr. Darren Taylor
Mental Attitude: Controlling Blood Pressure May Be the Best Way to Prevent Vascular Dementia. Over the next several decades, dementia and associated diseases will have an increasing impact on the economical and social systems of most Western countries. Because no treatment for these cognitive disorders currently exists, individuals should focus on managing lifestyle factors to reduce their overall risk. Uncontrolled hypertension is one of the primary risk factors for vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia behind Alzheimer's disease, and taking steps now to reduce high blood pressure may reduce one's risk for developing the disease or at least prolong its onset. German Medical Weekly, October 2015
Health Alert: Combination of Type 2 Diabetes and Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy May Increase Dementia Risk! The presence of type 2 diabetes can increase an older woman's risk for dementia by nearly 50%. However, in an 18-year study that included diabetic women with elevated estrogen levels due to postmenopausal hormone therapy, researchers observed the combination of type 2 diabetes and elevated estrogen levels doubled a woman's risk for a dementia diagnosis. Diabetes Care, October 2015
Diet: Antioxidants May Be More Harmful Than Helpful for Melanoma. Antioxidants have been highly touted as a way of preventing cancer and are commonly found in nutritional supplements, as well as in many fruits and vegetables. However, a new animal study suggests that antioxidants can actually double the rate of melanoma metastasis. Researchers found that while antioxidants can protect healthy cells from free radical damage that can lead to malignancies, antioxidants may also protect a tumor once it has formed. Lead researcher Dr. Martin Bergö calls for more research on antioxidants and other forms of cancer "if we want to make a fully informed assessment of the role that free radicals and antioxidants play in the process of cancer progression."
Science Translational Medicine, October 2015
Exercise: Varying Walking Speed Can Burns More Calories. Simply changing your walking speed can make a significant difference in the number of calories you'll burn on your next stroll. Investigators found changing your pace while walking can burn up to 20% more calories when compared with maintaining a constant walking pace. Study co-author Dr. Manoj Srinivasan explains that changing pace requires the legs to work slightly harder, and thus requires more energy. Dr. Srinivasan goes on to recommend the following to help burn more calories when walking, "Just do weird things. Walk with a backpack, walk with weights on your legs. Walk for a while, then stop and repeat that. Walk in a curve as opposed to a straight line." Biology Letters, September 2015
Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Issues Common for Office Workers. Most office workers who participated in a recent study suffer from one or more musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The small study involving 50 participants found that 74% had MSD symptoms. Among those with MSD, 81% reported suffering from back pain and 70% had problems related to their upper limbs. Furthermore, half of those with low back pain experienced mild to moderate disability related to their back pain. Despite improvements in ergonomics in recent decades, the findings suggest office workers remain at risk for developing MSD and further changes are needed in the workplace to reduce this risk. Work, August 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Most Seniors Have Trouble Sleeping! Nearly half of seniors who live at home and approximately two-thirds of older adults in nursing homes experience suboptimal sleep or have been diagnosed with a sleeping disorder. Left untreated, sleep complaints can result in excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired cognition, diminished intellect, confusion, and movement and memory difficulties. Current Psychiatry Reports, December 2015
Quote: “Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway.” - John Wayne