WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
Courtesy of: Michael Ellis D.C.
Mental Attitude: Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Have a Greater Risk of Suicide. An analysis of the health records of 1.4 million military veterans revealed that those who had sustained a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were 2.45 time more likely to die by suicide than veterans without a history of TBI. The authors of the analysis conclude, “Together, these findings underscore the importance of understanding veterans' lifetime history of TBI to prevent future deaths by suicide, and support the implementation of screening initiatives for lifetime history of TBI among all individuals utilizing the [Veterans Health Administration].” Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, September 2019 Health Alert: Heart Attacks More Lethal if Symptoms Are Gradual. New research shows that when symptoms come on gradually, people having a heart attack often wait eight hours or more before seeking medical help. This concerns the authors of the study because the current research shows that waiting more than two hours to seek care following a myocardial infarction is associated with a dramatically increased risk for poor outcomes, and nearly half of the heart attack patients in their data set had gradual symptom onset. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, September 2019 Diet: Mediterranean Diet Boosts Brain Function in Older Adults. The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, and whole grains, while avoiding red and processed meats, dairy, saturated fats, and refined sugars. A review of data from past studies suggests that individuals who closely adhere to a Mediterranean-style have a reduced risk for severe decline in visual spatial organization and memory, attention, and global cognitive function in the next five years. Nutritional Neuroscience, September 2019 Exercise: Exercise Provides Positive Effects for Those with Parkinson’s. Among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), researchers found that exercising for 30-45 minutes on a stationary bike a minimum of three times per week resulted in improvements in both cardiovascular fitness and motor ability. The Lancet Neurology, September 2019 Chiropractic: A Pain in the Neck Could Lead to More Problems… Examinations of 49 patients with unilateral (onesided) chronic neck pain and 98 asymptomatic adults revealed that those with neck pain were more likely to exhibit motion and strength deficits in other areas of the body that could elevate the risk for additional musculoskeletal injuries. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, August 2019 Wellness/Prevention: Naps Are Good for the Heart. Researchers studied the napping patterns of nearly 3,500 participants and tracked their heart health for over five years and found that napping once or twice a week reduced an individual’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure by 48%, compared to those who didn't nap at all. Heart, September 2019 Quote: “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.” ~ Richard Bach