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WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE

WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE 

Monday, April 20th, 2020 

Courtesy of: Michael Ellis D.C.

Health Alert: Weight Gain Dangerous to Lungs. While pulmonary function is expected to decline with advancing age, the results of a study that monitored 3,700 adults for two decades found that weight gain over time can hasten this process. Thorax, February 2020 Diet: The More You Know… Questionnaires completed by 438 college students revealed that those with greater health literacy tended to consume more servings of fruits and vegetables per day than participants with little knowledge of general health, health promotion, and disease prevention. Journal of American College Health, March 2020 Exercise: Temporomandibular Dysfunction May Impair Aerobic Capacity. In this study, researchers compared the peak oxygen consumption of 31 young women with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and 31 young women without the condition and observed that members of the TMD group had lower aerobic capacity. Cranio, March 2020 Chiropractic: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Common Among Elderly. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a debilitating condition associated with the degeneration of the spine, which can have a wide range of symptoms including back pain, leg pain, numbness and tingling in the legs, and reduced physical function. A review of data from 41 published studies found that the prevalence of lumbar spinal stenosis in the general population can range from 11%-39%, depending on diagnostic criteria. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to diagnosis degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and offer conservative treatment options such as spinal manipulation, exercise, and nutritional counseling. European Spine Journal, February 2020 Wellness/Prevention: Can Sarcopenia Be Slowed or Reversed? Sarcopenia is a disease associated with the loss of skeletal muscle mass during the aging process that affects around 12% of the elderly. The results of a recent study suggest that consuming adequate amounts of protein and staying physically active can help preserve skeletal muscle quality in seniors. Journal of Frailty and Aging, March 2020 Wellness/Prevention: How to Lift Heavy Things. To reduce the risk of injury when lifting heavy objects, the University of North Carolina recommends the following: prepare for the weight; get as close to the object as possible; keep your back straight and bend at the knees; get a good handhold, and do not twist while lifting. University of North Carolina, February 2020 Quote: “Love cultivates hope; hope fertilizes resilience, and we can all be farmers of dreams.” ~ George E. Miller