WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Week of: Monday, December 3rd, 2018
Courtesy of:
Mental Attitude: Happy Memories As a Child Might Benefit Your Health Later. A multi-year study that monitored the
wellbeing of over 22,000 adults in their mid-40s found that participants who recalled receiving higher levels of affection from
their mother during childhood were more likely to have better physical health and fewer depressive symptoms in the present
day. Lead author Dr. William Chopik adds, “One might expect childhood memories to matter less and less over time, but these
memories still predicted better physical and mental health when people were in middle age and older adulthood.”
Health Psychology, November 2018
Health Alert: A Noisy Neighborhood May Raise Heart Disease Risk. Living in a noisy neighborhood may be more than just
annoying, it may raise the risk for serious heart issues. Among a group of 500 healthy adults, researchers found that those who
lived in areas with higher levels of ambient noise have up to a three-times greater risk for heart attack, stroke, or another major
cardiovascular event than participants from quieter areas. Further analysis showed that participants from noisier neighborhoods
tended to have greater activity in their amygdale (a region of the brain involved in stress regulation) and more inflammation in
their arteries, which has been associated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular problems. Lead researcher Dr. Azar Radfar
notes, “We are not the first group talking about noise and cardiovascular disease… What we really show here is the mechanism
linking noise to major adverse cardiovascular events.” American Heart Association, November 2018
Diet: Just One Energy Drink… Caffeine-loaded energy drinks are very popular, but a new study suggests that they may make
your blood vessels less efficient in the short term. Researchers examined the blood vessels of 44 healthy, non-smoking medical
students both before and after they consumed a 24-ounce energy and found that after finishing the energy drink, the internal
diameter of the participants’ blood vessels became dramatically smaller. Lead researcher Dr. John Higgins explains, “It’s more
work for the heart and less oxygen supply for the heart. This could explain why there have been cases where kids have had a
cardiac arrest after an energy drink.” American Heart Association, November 2018
Exercise: Physical Activity Protects the Heart. According to a new study that monitored the health status of over 65,000
middle-aged adults for a decade, regular exercisers have a reduced mortality risk for several cardiovascular outcomes, including
acute myocardial infarction, chronic ischaemic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure,
cerebrovascular events, and aneurysm and peripheral vascular diseases. European Journal of Epidemiology, November 2018
Chiropractic: Cervical Spine Mobilization Results in Immediate Results. Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal
complaint that can be both costly and disabling. In this study, 40 neck pain patients received either cervical mobilization or a
motionless manual contact. Those in the mobilization group experienced improvements related to movement-associated pain, as
well as increased range of motion and velocity when turning the head. Mobilization is frequently used by doctors of chiropractic
to treat patients with neck pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Getting Adequate Vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for strong bones and a healthy immune system. The
Arthritis Foundation offers the following suggestions for boosting one’s vitamin D levels: get direct sunlight without sunscreen
for just 10 to 15 minutes every other day; eat 3 ounces of a fish rich in vitamin D, such as salmon or Atlantic mackerel, two to
four times a week; take a cod liver oil supplement; and eat vitamin D-fortified foods. Arthritis Foundation, October 2018
Quote: “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.