DAILY HEALTH UPDATE Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015
Courtesy of: Dr. Darren Taylor
Mental Attitude: Americans Concerned About Painkiller Addiction. Despite widespread use of narcotic painkillers, most Americans are concerned about the abuse of such medications. According to a recent study, one in four Americans report taking prescription painkillers, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, within the last year. Furthermore, almost 20% admitted they've taken painkillers prescribed for someone else. Most individuals believe the doctors who commonly prescribe these medications are responsible for the current health crisis by keeping patients on these drugs for too long or allowing more than one prescription. Study leader Dr. Colleen Barry adds, "This study shows that many Americans have had direct experience using prescription pain relievers and a sizable share have misused or abused these medications themselves, or have close friends or family members who have done so." Addiction, October 2015
Health Alert: Medical Gowns & Gloves Often a Source of Contamination. New research suggests healthcare workers often contaminate their skin and clothing when removing medical gowns and gloves. Using fluorescent lotion to determine contamination among hospital workers, researchers found that skin or clothing contamination occurred 46% of the time in a recent study. However, they observed a significant drop in the contamination rate after participants completed an education program regarding safe practices. JAMA Internal Medicine, October 2015
Diet: Drinking Black Tea May Reduce Fractures in Older Women. A study including more than 1,000 older women found those who drank at least three cups of black tea a day had a 34% lower risk of sustaining a serious osteoporosis fracture and a 42% lower risk of hip fracture when compared with women who rarely drank tea. Researcher Dr. Richard L. Prince notes, "Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated a beneficial effect of tea, a major source of dietary flavonoids, on bone structure."
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Annual Meeting, October 2015
Exercise: Prolonged Sitting Not Detrimental to Health Among Physically Active. Contrary to past research, a new study indicates prolonged sitting is not dangerous to one's health if they engage in regular exercise. Researchers followed 3,720 men and 1,412 women for 16 years and found the total amount of time spent sitting was not associated with an increase in all-cause mortality risk. Investigators say the lack of association between prolonged sitting and all-cause mortality may partly be due to the protective effect of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which was higher than average in the group studied. Study co-author Dr. Melvyn Hillsdon explains, "Our study overturns current thinking on the health risks of sitting and indicates that the problem lies in the absence of movement rather than the time spent sitting itself. Any stationary posture where energy expenditure is low may be detrimental to health, be it sitting or standing." International Journal of Epidemiology, October 2015
Chiropractic: Chronic Low Back Pain & Balance. Regardless of age, a study found individuals with chronic low back pain score lower on tests that measure one's ability to maintain balance. While poor balance can be problematic for all age groups, it is especially a concern for older adults, as it can lead to a greater risk for falls, which can result in less independence and a lower quality of life if serious injury occurs. European Spine Journal, October 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Help Prevent Rabies. Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The majority of rabies cases occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. To prevent the spread of this disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests: regular visits with a veterinarian to keep pets up to date on the rabies vaccine, keep pets under control, keep pets indoors if possible, and call animal control if you spot a stray animal in your neighborhood. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 2015
Quote: “Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” - Judy Garland