Darren Taylor, D.C.
Quote: “For myself I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.” - Winston S. Churchill Mental Attitude: Are Changes to the Brain to Blame for Tinnitus & Chronic Pain? Georgetown University Medical Center scientists say they have indentified brain abnormalities they believe may be responsible for both chronic pain and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). They explain that mechanisms in the brain that usually control noise and pain signals can lose their ability to do so, leading to a perception of noise or pain long after an injury has occurred. Dr. Josef Rauschecker, the director of the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition at Georgetown University Medical Center notes, "Some people call these phantom sensations, but they are real, produced by a brain that continues to 'feel' the initial injury because it cannot down-regulate the sensations enough. Both conditions are extraordinarily common, yet no treatment gets to the root of these disorders." The team hopes their findings will help develop new therapies for these common complaints. Georgetown University Medical Center, September 2015 Health Alert: TVs Pose Injury Risk for Kids. Between 2011 and 2013, an average of more than 15,000 kids per year were seen in emergency rooms across the United States for injuries involving toppled television (TV) sets. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends parents educate their kids about the dangers of knocking over/down the TV, limit playing in rooms with a TV, mount the TV securely on a wall, don't place a TV on a dresser, keep toys and other items that might attract your children away from TVs, and supervise children around TVs. Pediatrics, September 2015
Diet: American Kids Like Apples. American kids’ favorite fruit is the apple, which accounts for about 20% of all fruit consumed by children in the United States. Researchers examined surveys on the food habits of more than 3,100 school children and found that whole fruits made up 53% of their overall fruit consumption, while just over a third of the fruit in the average kid's diet came from 100% fruit juices. (The rest consists of mixed-fruit products and beverages that aren’t 100% fruit.) Apples made up 19% of total fruit intake, followed by citrus juice (14%), and apple juice (10%), with the rest coming from other whole fruits and juices. The authors of the study note that children do not eat enough daily servings of fruit and recommend parents encourage their children to not only eat more whole fruits but try different types as well. Pediatrics, September 2015 Exercise: Stretch! An essential part of a fitness plan should include finding time to stretch. The American Council on Exercise suggests stretching at least three days per week for at least 30 minutes, stretching for a few minutes as soon as you step out of the shower or bath, stretching before you get out of bed by pointing your toes and stretching your arms above your head, and taking an exercise class that involves stretching. American Council on Exercise, October 2015 Chiropractic: Avoid Injury When Lifting. Repetitive lifting or heavy lifting can strain the back and result in aching or injured back muscles. To keep your back safe, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends testing how heavy something is before attempting to lift it, making sure the weight is balanced in the object you're lifting, getting a good grip before lifting, lifting with your legs, moving slowly, keeping items close to your body, warming-up first, taking frequent breaks, refraining from trying to lift something that is too heavy, and seeking help if needed. American Academy of Family Physicians, October 2015 Wellness/Prevention: Is Fidgeting Good for Your Health? Tapping your foot, drumming your fingers, and shifting in your seat may actually be healthy for you. A study that included more than 14,000 women found the risk of premature death associated with prolonged sitting is substantially lower in women who are moderately-to-highly fidgety when compared with women who are characterized as only slightly fidgety. University of Leeds, September 2015