WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Wednesday, March 18th, 2020
Courtesy of: Michael Ellis D.C.
Health Alert: Over 40% of Americans Are Obese. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States increased from 30% in 1999 to 42.5% in 2017. Obesity is linked several poor health outcomes including an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, and kidney disease. National Center for Health Statistics, February 2020 Diet: Eat More Fruits, Veggies, and Fiber! New research that looked at the dietary habits and health data of over 400,000 adults revealed that for every 10 grams of fiber intake per day, an individual’s risk for ischemic stroke falls by 23%. Additionally, the data show that for every 200 grams of fruits and vegetables consumed per day, the risk for ischemic stroke drops by 13%. European Heart Journal, February 2020 Exercise: Get More Sleep to Reduce Exercise-Related Injury Risk. Questionnaires completed by over 7,500 men and women in the military revealed that soldiers who slept six or fewer hours per night were 53% more likely to experience exercise-related injuries such as fracture, sprains, and muscle strains than their peers who slept eight hours a night. Sleep Health, February 2020 Chiropractic: Back Pain, Work, and Absenteeism. Among a group of 735 workers from a variety of occupational backgrounds, 69% reported experiencing at least one episode of low back pain during the previous year. Further analysis showed that those with physically demanding jobs were more likely to experience recurring back pain and to miss work because of their back pain. Work, February 2020 Mental Attitude: Educations Linked to Longevity. Researchers looked at data concerning 5,000 adults who participated in a study twenty years previously and found that 13% of those who did not go to school beyond high school had died, while only 5% of college graduates in the group had passed away. American Journal of Public Health, February 2020 Wellness/Prevention: When to Get a Cholesterol Test. Cholesterol tests, also known as lipid panels and profiles, are blood tests used to measure the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Elevated cholesterol levels can be a significant risk factor for heart disease. The Mayo Clinic recommends cholesterol tests for the following individuals: those with a family history of high cholesterol or heart attack, overweight or physically inactive people, people with diabetes, those who eat an unhealthy diet or smoke, and men older than 45 and women older than 55. Mayo Clinic, February 2020 Quote: “Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.” ~ Seneca