Mental Attitude: Depression Common Among Those with COPD.
Two new studies have revealed that patients struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) may have an increased risk for developing depression. The first study followed COPD patients over a three-year period and found one in four participants reported persistent depressive symptoms. The second study found that 22% of Medicare patients with COPD had one or more psychological disorders. An expert not involved in the study, Dr. David Mannino, explains that depression makes it difficult for those with COPD to adhere to needed therapies, especially since they tend to blame themselves for developing the disease by smoking.
CHEST, April 2016
Health Alert: High BMI & Waist Circumference Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer.
A high body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference appears to increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Researchers followed 141,896 men from eight European countries and found a 10% increased risk of high grade (aggressive) prostate cancer for every five point increase in BMI and a 13% increase for every ten cm (3.9 inch) increase in waist circumference. Additionally, they found a 14% higher risk for fatal prostate cancer with every five point increase in BMI, and 18% increased risk in every ten cm increase in waist circumference. They conclude, “The findings from this large prospective study show that the association between body size and prostate cancer is complex and varies by disease aggressiveness; men who have greater adiposity have an elevated risk of high grade prostate cancer and prostate cancer death.”
European Association for the Study of Obesity, June 2016
Diet: Dietary Fiber May Be Key to Successful Aging.
Consuming a diet rich in fiber may be the key to aging successfully. In this study, researchers defined successful aging as reaching old age both disease-free and fully functional. They analyzed data on 1,609 adults aged 49 years and older and found that participants who had the highest intake of fiber were nearly 80% more likely to age successfully over a ten-year period than those with the lowest fiber intake.
The Journal of Gerontology, June 2016
Exercise: Majority of Weight Management Apps Not Certified or Proven to Be Effective.
Many overweight and obese people turn to a multitude of smartphone apps to help them lose weight; however, new research claims that less than one half percent of the 3,013 apps identified by the researchers that focused on body weight, exercise, and calorie intake recording and monitoring have been developed by a certified health organization or university.
European Association for the Study of Obesity, June 2016
Chiropractic: Short Leg Associated with Lumbar Disk Herniation.
A new study investigated the role of leg length discrepancy and the occurrence of lumbar disk herniation. It has long been theorized that inequality in leg length may lead to abnormal transmission of load across the vertebral endplates and degeneration lumbar spine and the disk space. The study included 39 subjects with leg length discrepancy and low back pain as well as 43 people with just low back pain. Investigators found a statistically significant association between leg length inequality and the occurrences of lumbar disk herniation. Further research is needed, but the findings suggest that addressing leg length inequality may reduce an individual’s risk of lumbar disk herniation.
Journal of Cranioverterbral Junction & Spine, May 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Possible Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Breast Cancer.
German researchers compared the vitamin D levels and mammographic findings of 1,103 women and found that women with malignant results were more likely to have deficient vitamin D levels than those with negative results. Though more research is necessary, this finding suggests vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of some types of breast cancer.
Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2016