Mental Attitude: Depression and Anxiety Are Common in Adults with Autism.
Using data from 35 studies published between 2000 and 2017, researchers estimate that nearly one in four (23.7%) adults with autism spectrum disorder currently have depression while 27% suffer from an anxiety disorder.
Psychological Medicine, September 2018
Health Alert: Superbug Spreading in Hospitals.
Three variants of the multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria have been discovered in samples from 78 hospitals in ten countries. It is suspected that the superbug is spreading rapidly due to the high use of antibiotics in intensive care units, where patients are routinely prescribed strong drugs. Researcher Dr. Ben Howden adds, “This highlights that the use of more and more antibiotics is driving more drug-resistant bacteria… With all bacteria in a hospital environment we are driving more resistant strains and there’s no doubt that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest dangers to hospital care worldwide.”
Nature Microbiology, September 2018
Diet: Amazonian Fruit May Help Prevent Obesity.
In this study, researchers found that consuming camu camu—a fruit native to the Amazon— improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and reduced blood endotoxins and metabolic inflammation in mice that were fed a high-sugar, high-fat diet. The findings suggest that camu camu phytochemicals may play a role in the fight against obesity and metabolic disease, but further studies are needed to determine if such benefits would extend to humans.
Gut, July 2018
Exercise: Nearly 1.5 Billion Adults Worldwide Face Disease Because of Inactivity.
Living a sedentary lifestyle has put more than one-quarter of adults worldwide at risk for serious disease. Current guidelines call for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Based on an analysis of survey data, researchers report that nearly one-third of women and one-quarter of men worldwide failed to meet these levels in 2016, placing them at a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and certain types of cancer.
The Lancet Global Health, September 2018
Chiropractic: Does Spinal Manipulation Improve Pulmonary Function?
Thoracic spinal manipulation may improve pulmonary function in stroke patients. In this study, researchers tested the pulmonary function of 36 stroke patients before and after they received either a thoracic spinal adjustment or a sham treatment. The participants in the thoracic manipulation group experienced significant improvements in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume at one second.
Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, August 2018
Wellness/Prevention: What Causes Urinary Incontinence?
Loss of bladder control is called urinary incontinence (UI). It is a common condition that becomes more prominent with age. Common causes include weakened and stretched pelvic muscles in women following childbirth; certain medications; being overweight or obese, which increases pressure on the bladder and related muscles; urinary tract infection; vascular disease; and diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis. In many instances, UI can be treated with simple exercises and bladder training, though serious cases may require more invasive approaches.
HealthDay, September 2018