Mental Attitude: When You're Hot, You're Hot!
When an athlete is doing well, commentators may describe him as being "hot" or "on fire." Scientists have generally thought such streaks were, primarily, in the eye of the beholder... until now. After an analysis of five years of NBA free throws (over 300,000), researchers believe they have observed the so-called "hot hand" phenomenon: that a streak of positive outcomes is likely to continue. This phenomenon had largely been considered a product of human perception since its coining in 1985 but it appears commentators and fans were right after all.
PLoS ONE, Sept 2011
Health Alert: Risk Of Undetected Strokes!
95% of people aged 65 and older have brain small vessel disease. 25% of healthy seniors (average age 70) have evidence of small, silent strokes. Microbleeds, another type of small vessel disease, are associated with high blood pressure and with Alzheimer's disease. Unlike major stroke events, these types of small vessel disease gradually build up and increase the risk of clinical stroke events, depression, falls and Alzheimer's dementia.
Canadian PURE MIND, Aug 2011
Diet: Get Your Vitamin D!
More than three-quarters of cancer patients have insufficient levels of vitamin D and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancer. The five most common primary diagnoses were breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and colorectal cancer. 77% of patients had vitamin D concentrations either deficient or sub-optimal.
American Society for Radiation Oncology, Oct 2011
Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise helps the body resist upper respiratory tract infections, increases your anaerobic threshold (allowing you to work or exercise longer at a higher level, before a significant amount of lactic acid builds up), helps to preserve lean body tissue, and improves ability to recover from physical exertion.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care Safe?
The rate of mild adverse events (irritability or soreness lasting less than 24 hours, resolving without the need for additional care) among chiropractic pediatric patients receiving Pediatric Manipulative Therapy (PMT) is .53% -1%. The incidence rate for PMT delivered by Medical Physicians is 6%, and 9% from Osteopaths.
Clinical Chiropractic, Sept 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Men Stay Lean!
Men develop type 2 diabetes at a lower body mass index than do women (33.69 vs. 31.83).
Scottish Diabetes Research Network, Sept 2011
