Weekly Health Update
Tuesday, June 4th, 2019
Courtesy of: Michael Ellis D.C.
Mental Attitude: Anger Can Be Dangerous for the Elderly. Surveys completed by 226 older adults revealed that for those over age 80, experiencing anger daily is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. Psychology and Aging, May 2019 Health Alert: Poor Sense of Smell Linked to Greater Risk for Death in Next Decade. A review of data concerning nearly 2,300 participants from the National Institute of Aging’s Health ABC study revealed that participants with a poor sense of smell were 46% more likely to die in the following ten years than those with no olfactory issues. Researcher Dr. Honglei Chen writes, “[This finding] tells us that in older adults, impaired sense of smell has broader implications of health beyond what we have already known… Incorporating a sense of smell screening in routine doctor visits might be a good idea at some point.” Annals of Internal Medicine, May 2019 Diet: Eating Nuts During Pregnancy Good for Baby’s Brain. In a study in which researchers assessed more than 2,200 children at 1.5 and 8 years of age, those born to mothers who ate over 2.5 ounces of nuts per week during pregnancy scored considerably higher on tests of sustained attention, working memory, and IQ than kids whose mothers ate fewer nuts. Further study is needed for guidelines to be updated, but senior author Dr. Jordi Julvez recommends that pregnant women eat nuts at least three times per week, especially almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. European Journal of Epidemiology, May 2019 Exercise: Discover the Benefits of Fitness Boxing. Fitness boxing can be a great way to get and stay fit. Because this form of exercise involves throwing punches at the air or at a punching bag and there is no sparring involved, there is no risk of head trauma. The Harvard Medical School notes that fitness boxing offers the following benefits: increased upperbody strength, improved hand-eye coordination, increased aerobic fitness, improved mood, and improved balance. Harvard Medical School, May 2019 Chiropractic: Office Workers with Neck Pain Have Bad Posture. Among a group of 32 office workers, half of whom had neck pain, researchers observed that while sitting, participants with cervical discomfort were more likely to have forward head posture and stiffness in the upper trapezius muscles. The findings suggest that poor workstation ergonomics in the office environment may play a role in work-related neck disorders. When treating individuals with neck pain, doctors of chiropractic will often provide ergonomic training to reduce the risk for neck pain recurrence. PM&R, May 2019 Wellness/Prevention: Do You Suffer from Excess Gas? For individuals with excess gas, the National Institutes of Health recommends eating slowly; avoiding gum and hard candies; quitting smoking; and eating smaller, more frequent meals. National Institutes of Health, May 2019 Quote: “If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams.” ~ Les Brown