DAILY HEALTH UPDATE Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
Courtesy of: Dr. Darren Taylor
Mental Attitude: Your Teenager's Moodiness Should Subside... Dutch researchers who followed nearly 500 teens for five years say adolescents actually do grow out of emotional swings. Lead author Dr. Dominique Maciejewski adds, "Parents would be advised not to worry too much about their teenager's moodiness, as these will decline in most cases." She adds that professional help is needed only when mood swings persist into late adolescence. While determining the exact mechanisms that drive the ups and downs of teen emotions was not part of the study, the authors speculate hormonal or brain-related changes during early adolescence may play a role. Child Development, October 2015
Health Alert: High-Stress Job Tied to Stroke Risk. After following nearly 140,000 people for 17 years, Chinese researchers report individuals with high-stress jobs have a 22% greater risk for stroke than those with less stressful careers. The researchers note high- stress jobs can often lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as poor diet, smoking, and a lack of exercise, all of which may contribute to a greater risk for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. Lead researcher Dr. Yuli Huang warns, "It is vital for people with high-stress occupations to address these lifestyle issues." Neurology, October 2015
Diet: Fast Food May Lead to Poorer Bone Development. Living where there is easy access to fast food restaurants may affect bone development during early childhood. An analysis of data concerning over 1,100 children revealed newborns from neighborhoods with a higher concentration of fast food outlets had lower bone mineral density and bone mineral content than those born in areas with fewer fast food options. The research team also found children living in areas with a greater availability of fresh fruits and vegetables had higher bone mineral density at ages 4-6 than those living in areas with less access to fresh produce.
Osteoporosis International, October 2015
Exercise: 7 Benefits of Physical Activity. We all know exercise is good for us, but do you know how good? The Mayo Clinic lists the following benefits of exercise: controls weight, combats health conditions and diseases, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep, puts the spark back into your love life, and it can be fun. Mayo Clinic, October 2015
Chiropractic: Migraine Sufferers at Greater Risk of Dizziness. New evidence suggests patients with migraines have double the risk for developing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) when compared with individuals without a history of migraines. The study involved 8,266 participants and revealed that 1.11% of migraine sufferers developed BPPV compared with only 0.5% of individuals in a control group without a history of migraine headaches. BPPV is caused by a problem in the inner ear that usually causes brief vertigo spells that come and go. Although BPPV may not be a common condition in migraine patients, migraine sufferers with vestibular symptoms should alert physicians to the possibility of BPPV. The Journal of Headache and Pain, July 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Confirm High Blood Pressure at Home? A report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine recommends that high blood pressure levels be confirmed with home or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring before patients start treatment for hypertension. The authors of the report say factors such as stress, physical activity, caffeine, nicotine, and “white coat syndrome” (when a patient feels anxiety in a medical environment) can affect blood pressure. Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a spokesman for the American Heart Association writes, "Nearly one in three adult men and women in the United States have high blood pressure. However, way too many adults do not have their elevated blood pressure adequately detected and treated, and as a result are at risk for heart attacks and strokes that could have been prevented." He adds that it's essential for all adults to have their blood pressure checked at least once a year. Annals of Internal Medicine, October 2015
Quote: “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” - Edmund Hillary