WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Thursday, November 28th, 2019
Courtesy of: Michael Ellis D.C.
Mental Attitude: Health May Suffer If You Don’t Get Along with Family. Interviews conducted with nearly 2,800 adults between 1995 and 2014 revealed an association between strain in familial relationships and an increased risk for one or more chronic health conditions. Journal of Family Psychology, November 2019 Health Alert: Disinfectants May Not Kill Dangerous Superbug in Hospitals. The superbug Clostridiodes difficile (C.diff) is one of the leading causes of hospital-related deaths and is a significant public health threat, responsible for half a million infections and nearly 30,000 deaths in the United States each year. In a recent experiment, researchers exposed five unique strains of C. diff to seven disinfectants used in hospital environments and observed that no disinfectant completely eliminated the bacteria, though bleach performed the best. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 2019 Diet: Diet Affects Daytime Drowsiness. If you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, it may be the result of your diet. A recent study involving over 4,000 participants revealed that adults with a high intake of saturated fats and carbohydrates may have an elevated risk for excessive daytime sleepiness. Nutrients, November 2019 Exercise: Kids Get Less Active Over Time. Using data from the B-PROACT1V study involving 2,132 children from 57 schools in the United Kingdom, researchers report that kids tend to become less physically active and more sedentary as they age. This is concerning because reduced physical activity and increased sedentary time are associated with an elevated risk for unhealthy weight gain and children who are overweight/obese are more likely to also be overweight/obese in adulthood. International Journal of Obesity, November 2019 Chiropractic: Manipulation or Exercise for Chronic Back Pain? Treatment guidelines often recommend conservative treatment options—such as manipulative therapy and exercise—to treat chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) and other musculoskeletal conditions. In a recent study involving 42 CNSLBP patients, researchers observed that participants who performed therapeutic exercises for five weeks and those who received five manipulative treatments during the same time frame both experienced improvements with respect to back pain, but the patients in the manipulative treatment group reported greater improvements. Doctors of chiropractic often utilize both manipulative therapy and exercise for the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain. Journal of Back Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, October 2019 Wellness/Prevention: Plot a Course to Better Health. The American Heart Association suggests the following to help you better cope with life’s stresses: sleep well to improve eating habits, mood, and memory; add yoga or meditation to your life; find coping methods, such as a going for brisk walks, volunteering, or starting a new hobby; get plenty of regular exercise; and eat a balanced diet. American Heart Association, November 2019 Quote: “Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.” ~ Felix Frankfurter