Mental Attitude: Declining Brain Health Linked to Increased Risk of Critical Illness.
Mayo Clinic researchers report that seniors with mild cognitive impairment are 50% more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) to treat a serious illness than their peers with no apparent signs of cognitive decline.
Critical Care Medicine, July 2016
Health Alert: Is Modern Lifestyle to Blame for the Obesity Epidemic?
When it comes to the obesity epidemic, is nature to blame… or nurture? An analysis of data from nearly 8,800 adults participating in a nationwide health and retirement study revealed that participants were more likely to pack on more pounds if they were born later in the 20th century, regardless of whether they had a high genetic risk for obesity. The researchers suggest that modern conveniences may be to blame as they have allowed people to become more and more sedentary. The Obesity Society’s Dr. Anthony Comuzzie explains, “When was the last time you got out of the car and opened your own garage, or got off the couch to change the TV channel?… People have more money to spend on easily available fast food, and they are less likely to engage in physical activity. It’s a double-edged sword.”
Journal of the American Medical Association, July 2016
Diet: Is Pasta Good for Your Diet?
Many people have shunned pasta in recent years because of concerns that it’s fattening. However, new research suggests that pasta, specifically noodles, may actually aid in weight loss. Italian researchers found that moderate pasta consumption appears to be linked to a lower incidence of both general and abdominal obesity. Lead researcher Dr. George Pounis writes, “We have seen that consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite.”
Nutrition and Diabetes, July 2016
Exercise: Exercise During Pregnancy Offers Benefits.
According to new research, women who exercise during pregnancy are less likely to require a caesarian section than women who refrain from exercise. Furthermore, exercise does not appear to increase the risk of preterm birth. The researchers also found exercise results in a lower incidence of gestational diabetes and lower rates of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, June 2016
Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulative Therapy & Home Exercise Beneficial to Those with Chronic Neck Pain.
Chronic neck pain is a common and disabling condition among older adults, but little is known regarding the cost-effectiveness of commonly used treatments. A recent study investigated the cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy, supervised exercise, and home exercise among a group of 241 older adults with chronic mechanical neck pain. The investigators found that spinal manipulation combined with home exercise resulted in better clinical outcomes and lower costs than either supervised exercise combined with home exercise or home exercise alone. The study demonstrates the benefit of utilizing spinal manipulative therapy in the management of chronic neck pain.
The Spine Journal, June 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Keep Your Child’s Sandbox Safe.
For decades, children have played in sandboxes. But while these play areas allow kids to express their creativity and enjoy the outdoors, sandboxes can also harbor germs. To help keep your child’s sandbox safer, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests: use only natural river or beach sand, cover the sandbox when not in use to keep animals and insects out, let wet sand dry completely before covering, rake sand regularly to get rid of clumps and debris, and keep pets out of the sandbox.
American Academy of Pediatrics, June 2016