Mental Attitude: Attitude May Help Prevent a Second Stroke.
Examinations of 400 patients who survived either a mild or moderate stroke or a transient ischemia attack found that those who felt as though they could protect themselves from a second stroke were less likely to have high blood pressure (a risk factor for stroke) a year later. Senior author Dr. Bernadette Boden-Albala writes, “You can protect yourself against stroke by reducing your risk factors. And this study shows that if you think you can do it, you can.”
American Stroke Association, January 2019

Health Alert: Most Americans Will Eventually Have High Blood Pressure.
The American Heart Association estimates that the average American has about a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure in his/her lifetime. However, one can reduce their hypertension risk by not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and managing stress.
Circulation, January 2019

Diet: Should You Try a Plant-Based Diet?
In this study, researchers observed that participants who consumed a vegetarian meal experienced an increase in beneficial gastrointestinal hormones involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism, insulin secretion, energy homeostasis, satiety, and weight management. Study author Dr. Hana Kahleova adds, “The fact that simple meal choices can increase the secretion of these healthy hormones has important implications for those with type 2 diabetes or weight problems… This study adds to the mounting evidence that plant-based diets can help manage and prevent type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
Nutrients, January 2019

Exercise: Aerobic Exercise May Help OCD Patients.
In this study, patients with treatment-resistant obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who participated in a twelve-week aerobic exercise training program experienced improvements with respect to mood, anxiety, and compulsion.
Journal of Affective Disorders, February 2019

Chiropractic: Osteoarthritis of the Hip?
Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is among the most common degenerative joint diseases, and it is associated with chronic pain, reduced mobility, and stiffness in the region surrounding the hip joint. A systematic review of data from twelve studies found that a combination of manual therapy and patient education is effective at improving pain, hip range of motion, and physical function in patients with hip OA. Doctors of chiropractic commonly use such treatments when managing patients with osteoarthritis of the hip.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, February 2019

Wellness/Prevention: Identifying Vision Problems in Infants.
Although rare, vision problems do occur among newborn and infants. The American Optometric Association lists the following signs of vision problems in this age group: excessive tearing, which may indicate blocked tear ducts; red or encrusted eye lids, which could signal an eye infection; constant eye turning, which may signal a problem with eye muscle control; extreme sensitivity to light, which may indicate elevated pressure in the eye; and the appearance of a white pupil, which may indicate an eye tumor that could be cancerous.
American Optometric Association, January 2019