Dr. Darren Taylor, Daily Health Update

DAILY HEALTH UPDATE, Friday, October 23rd, 2015

Courtesy of:  Dr. Darren Taylor 

Mental Attitude: Most Patients in Addiction Treatment Programs Smoke. A review of 54 studies that included more than 37,000 people found that 84% of those in treatment for drug and alcohol problems were smokers compared with only 31% of the general population. Study leader Dr. Joseph Guydish adds, "Every person who enters substance abuse treatment ought to have their tobacco use evaluated and treated. If they don't want to be treated and quit right away, they should have some education to help them think more about quitting." He adds that a number of previous studies have strongly suggested that addressing patients' smoking can improve the outcomes of substance abuse treatment. Addiction, September 2015

Health Alert: Vitamin D Deficient Individuals at Increased Risk for Acute Rhinosinusitis! Compared with those whose vitamin D levels are considered adequate, adults with low levels of vitamin D are at a 33% greater risk for acute rhinosinusitis — a condition that occurs when the tissues of the nasal cavity are inflamed, usually a result of the common cold, allergies, or bacterial or fungal infections. This finding adds to a growing body of research regarding the poor health outcomes of individuals who fail to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. Medicine, October 2015

Diet: Americans Eating All Day Long. Researchers asked 150 adults to track the food they ate during a three-week period. They found the majority of participants in the study regularly ate throughout their waking day and consumed a majority of their calories after 6:00 pm. Dr. Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas adds, "I see this a lot in those that I work with in my weight-loss classes. There is a lack of planning and stability in their eating schedules, so eating just happens whenever. Many skip breakfast, have a light lunch, then find themselves hungry and tired in the afternoon and seeking a pick-me-up from the vending machine, only to get home from work ravenous and wanting to eat anything and everything with no energy to exercise. They then spend the night snacking before bed. This is a common phenomenon. [So] planning ahead for regularly scheduled meals is an important strategy for weight loss or just simply eating healthier." Cell Metabolism, September 2015

Exercise: Physical Activity Helpful for Mental Health of Bullied Adolescents. Exercising four or more days per week is associated with about a 23% reduction in both suicidal thoughts and attempts among bullied teens. Bullying is a growing public health burden and is associated with academic struggle, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and self-harm. Based on the findings, the authors conclude that exercise may be a safe, economical, and potentially effective option for teenagers who have been the target of bullies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, October 2015

Chiropractic: Pillow Height Affects Muscle Activity and Comfort. Chiropractors often recommend cervical pillows to their patients to promote spinal alignment and reduce neck pain. A new study suggests that pillow height can affect muscle activity in the neck/upper back, as well as user comfort. In the study, 21 asymptomatic participants used foam pillows of three different heights (5 cm, 10 cm, and 14 cm). The participants gave the 10 cm high pillow the highest comfort rating while electromyography showed laying on the 10 cm and 14 cm high pillows resulted in less neck/upper back muscle activity than the 5 cm pillow height. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, July 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Nearly 3 of 10 Cancer Cases in Australia Link to 4 Preventable Risk Factors! Australian researchers estimate that 29.1% of all cancers diagnosed in their country in 2010 were caused by four preventable risk factors. These factors include smoking (13.4%), too much sun exposure (6.2%), poor diet (6.1%), and being overweight or obese (3.4%). The most common types of cancer caused by these risk factors are lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma of the skin. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, October 2015

Quote: “Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” - Franz Kafka

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Dr. Darren Taylor 

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Dr. Darren Taylor, Daily Health Update

DAILY HEALTH UPDATE, Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

Courtesy of: Dr. Darren Taylor

Mental Attitude: Are Children with More Caring, Less Controlling Parents Happier Later in Life? According to surveys completed by 5,000 United Kingdom residents, happiness and life satisfaction may be the result of having parents who are both caring and less psychologically controlling. Researcher Dr. Mai Stafford explains, "We found that people whose parents showed warmth and responsiveness had higher life satisfaction and better mental wellbeing throughout early, middle, and late adulthood... By contrast, psychological control can limit a child's independence and leave them less able to regulate their own behavior." The Journal of Positive Psychology, September 2015

Health Alert: One in Ten Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims 10% of pregnant women in the United States admit to drinking alcohol, and 30% of these women binge drink. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk the pregnancy will end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery and can also place an unborn child at serious risk for birth defects, developmental problems, and disabilities. Dr. Coleen Boyle, the director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, urges women to avoid alcohol completely during their pregnancy.                 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 2015

Diet: High-Protein Diets Improve Blood Sugar Control in Diabetics. High-protein diets appear to improve blood sugar control among those with type 2 diabetes without any harm to kidney function. A small study found that type 2 diabetics who followed a high- protein diet for six weeks experienced improved liver enzyme tests, reduced liver fat and HbA1c values, and had a significant improvement in kidney function. Diabetologia, September 2015

Exercise: Exercise & Diet Improve Fertility Among Women with PCOS. It is estimated that five million women in the United States have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Symptoms include pelvic pain, excess hair growth, weight gain, acne, irregular menstrual periods, and infertility. A new study finds that exercise and weight loss can help improve fertility among women with PCOS. Lead author Dr. Richard S. Legro writes, "The research indicates preconception weight loss and exercise improve women's reproductive and metabolic health. In contrast, using oral contraceptives alone may worsen the metabolic profile without improving ovulation. Lifestyle change is an important part of any fertility treatment approach for women with PCOS who are overweight or obese." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, September 2015

Chiropractic: Slouching Makes Your Upper Body Work Harder. Researchers compared muscle activity in twenty subjects as they raised and lowered their arms from both an upright and slouched sitting position and found slouching resulted in reduced maximum arm elevation and movement velocity. Electromyography of the muscles in the upper back and neck showed increased activity when the participants slouched. Such added effort could lead to muscle fatigue and a greater risk of injury. This study underscores the importance of maintaining good posture while seated. European Journal of Applied Physiology, October 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Retirement May Result in Poor Health. If you want to stay healthier in your senior years, you may want to consider not retiring. New research suggests that seniors who keep working appear healthier than those who quit the workforce. The study consisted of more than 83,000 Americans aged 65 and older and found that being unemployed or retired was associated with a greater risk of poor health. Lead author Dr. Jay Olshansky explains, "We shouldn't be forcing people out of the labor force if it's going to have a harmful effect on their health, and if they want to continue working and they are able to do their job. Remaining in the labor force is healthier for you. It's healthier because working keeps you physically and mentally engaged."Preventing Chronic Disease, September 2015 Quote: “The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.” - Brian Herbert

For More Information on Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Whiplash, and To Sign Up For Our Daily Health Update Emails,

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Dr. Darren Taylor

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Dr. Darren Taylor, Daily Health Update

DAILY HEALTH UPDATE  Wednesday, October 21st, 2015

Courtesy of: Dr. Darren Taylor 

Mental Attitude: Sleep Apnea May Increase Risk of Depression. Australian researchers have found individuals with sleep apnea have an elevated risk for depression, but using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy device appears to counteract that risk. At the beginning of the study, nearly 73% of the sleep apnea patients suffered from depression and the worse their apnea, the more severe their depression. However, only 4% of the sleep apnea patients who used a CPAP device for an average of at least five hours a night still had significant symptoms of depression after three months. The research team says that people with symptoms of depression should be screened for sleep apnea symptoms, such as snoring, breathing pauses during sleep, disrupted sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Study author Dr. David Hillman adds, "The findings highlight the potential for sleep apnea, a notoriously underdiagnosed condition, to be misdiagnosed as depression." Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, September 2015

Health Alert: Higher BPA Exposure During Pregnancy May Lead to Lower Birth Weight. Mothers with higher blood levels of the chemical BPA early in their pregnancy appear to have newborn girls who weigh less than girls born to mothers with less BPA exposure. BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical used to create plastics and epoxy resins. It is usually found in plastic containers, dental sealants, and thermal cash receipts. Researchers found that for every twofold increase of BPA in a mother's blood during the first trimester, the weight of their newborn girls decreased by about 6.5 ounces (~.18 kg). Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at NYU School of Medicine in New York City comments, "This study adds further concern about the health effects of BPA exposure, particularly in vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children."

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, September 2015

Diet: Dried Plums May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk. Previous research has shown that a disruption to the microbiota (gut bacteria) can trigger inflammation that could promote the development of colon cancer over time. An animal-based study conducted by researchers from Texas A&M University found a diet containing dried plums can positively affect gut bacteria throughout the colon and significantly reduce the incidence of precancerous lesions. While additional research is needed to see if this finding is reproducible in human subjects, the results suggest that regularly eating dried plums may be a possible dietary strategy to help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Experimental Biology Conference in Boston, September 2015

Exercise: Young Adults May Need to Eat Less & Workout More to Avoid Obesity. According to a new study, if you are around age 25 and struggling with weight gain, you might be surprised to know that your parents had it easier when they were your age. Researchers from Ontario Canada's York University found that for the same level of food intake, people were about 10% heavier in 2008 than in 1971, and about 5% heavier for a given amount of physical activity in 1988 than 2006.

Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, September 2015

Chiropractic: Does Running Improve Back Pain? Investigators gathered data from 777 half-marathon runners and found that 54% had a history of back pain. Among these back pain sufferers, 49% reported their pain improved after running, while 27% said running worsened their pain. The finding supports the notion that individuals with back pain should continue their normal activities as part of the recovery process, if such activities can be tolerated. Revue Medicale Suisse, July 2015

Wellness/Prevention: How to Prevent Childhood Obesity. Keeping children at a healthy weight is a common concern among parents. Besides making sure kids eat a healthy diet, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents ensure their children get adequate sleep by establishing a regular bedtime routine, restricting screen time to two hours max per day to allow for more time to be physically active, and offering children praise and recognition for healthy behavior. American Academy of Pediatrics, October 2015

Quote: “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”                          -William Faulkner