Weekly Health Update — Positive Expectations Improve Outcomes.

Chiropractic: Positive Expectations Improve Outcomes.
Regardless of symptom severity, low back pain patients with more positive expectations appear to achieve better outcomes than patients who are neutral or negative about what to expect from chiropractic treatment.
European Spine Journal, June 2014

Mental Attitude: Brain Abnormalities in Youths Who Commit Homicide.
A new study suggests that adolescents who have committed one or more homicides have significantly different brain structures than those who have not. The results were gathered using MRI findings on 20 brains of youths who committed at least one homicide and 135 youth offenders (criminals) who had not committed a homicide. Among homicide offenders, the MRI scans revealed a significant reduction in gray matter in the areas of the brain associated with impulse control and emotional processing.
NeuroImage: Clinical, May 2014

Health Alert: 1 in 8 American Kids Mistreated.
More than 12% of kids in the United States experience beatings, neglect, or sexual or emotional abuse. Although lower than 25 years ago, the number of affected children is higher than researchers anticipated. The authors of the study note that the risk of childhood maltreatment is approximately four times higher during their first year of life and to reduce the risk of mistreatment, they recommend that friends and family pay special attention to the needs of parents of very young children.
JAMA Pediatrics, May 2014

Diet: Does Variety in Diet Hamper Microbial Diversity in the Gut?
Contrary to expectations, fish with more diverse diets have a less diverse population of gut microbes. If this holds true for humans, it could mean that the variety of foods individuals eat can impact their gut microbe diversity.
Ecology Letters, May 2014

Exercise: Vibration Exercise Helps Fibromyalgia Patients.
Researchers at the University of Indiana have found that whole-body vibration exercise may reduce pain symptoms as well as improve the quality of life of individuals with fibromyalgia. Regular exercise is one of the best known therapies for fibromyalgia, a disorder characterized by musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Unfortunately, many fibromyalgia patients are reluctant to exercise due to fear of pain increasing with physical activity. Whole-body vibration exercise involves standing, sitting, or lying on a machine with a vibrating platform that causes muscles to contract and relax as the machine vibrates.
Indiana University, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Blood Test May Identify Patients at Risk of Cardiovascular Death.
A study has identified a gene expression profile associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular death. Combined with other indicators such as biochemical markers and family history, a simple blood test may identify patients who could benefit from early treatment and counseling to reduce their heart attack risk. Senior author Dr. Gregory Gibson explains, "We envision that with our gene expression-based marker, plus some biochemical markers, genotype information and family history, we could produce a tiered evaluation of people's risks of adverse coronary events."
Genome Medicine, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Case Study.

Chiropractic: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Case Study.
A patient with shoulder impingement syndrome underwent chiropractic treatment that included soft tissue therapy, phonophoresis, manipulation, and shoulder exercises. At the end of treatment, the patient was symptom-free with a return to normal of shoulder range of motion and daily activities, including sports-related activities. This case report shows the potential benefit of chiropractic care in resolving symptoms associated with shoulder impingement syndrome.
Journal of Physiological Therapeutics, November 2014

Mental Attitude: Learning A Second Language Slows Cognitive Decline.
New research suggests that speaking more than one language may slow down age-related cognitive decline, even if the second language is learned during adulthood. Research leader Dr. Thomas Bak writes, "These findings are of considerable practical relevance. Millions of people around the world acquire their second language later in life. Our study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may benefit the aging brain."
Annals of Neurology, June 2014

Health Alert: Smoking & Passive Smoking Cause Hearing Loss.
Smokers are 15.1% more likely to develop hearing loss compared with non-smokers and passive smokers (those regularly exposed to second-hand smoke). Moreover, passive smokers were found to be 28% more likely to develop hearing loss than non-smokers. Lead researcher Dr. Piers Dawes adds, "We are not sure if toxins in tobacco smoke affect hearing directly, or whether smoking-related cardiovascular disease causes microvascular changes that impact on hearing, or both."
Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, May 2014

Diet: Green Tea Component Disrupts Cancer Cell Metabolism.
Researchers have discovered how an active component of green tea called epigallocatechen gallate (EGCG) disrupts the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells. They found that ECGC suppresses the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, a critical enzyme in cancer cell metabolism. This finding adds to numerous previous studies that have suggested green tea and its extracts may provide suitable treatment for cancer.
Metabolomics, April 2014

Exercise: Quality of Exercise More Important Than Quantity.
Scientists say that to lose weight and maintain optimal health and fitness, the quality of your exercise routine matters more than quantity. This new study suggests greater benefits can be attained from a multi-dimensional exercise program that includes resistance exercise, interval sprint exercise, stretching, and endurance exercise.
Journal of Applied Physiology, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Hospital Drops Obstetric Malpractice Claims By 50%!
With a rise in malpractice lawsuits pushing many doctors out of practice and deterring young doctors from pursuing obstetrics, a Connecticut hospital initiated a series of changes to help curb malpractice claims. By standardizing care, learning and practicing new teamwork protocols, and enhancing oversight of clinical work, the hospital reduced claims by 50% and cut payments for liability claims from $50 million to $3 million.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, June 2014

Weekly Health Update — Heavy Physical Work and Low Back Pain

Chiropractic: Heavy Physical Work and Low Back Pain.
Among Brazil's urban cleaning workers (drivers, trash collectors, maintenance workers, etc.), musculoskeletal pain -- and low back pain in particular -- is a major public health issue. Researchers interviewed 657 workers and found that 37% have experienced back pain lasting more than one week during the previous year, and of that group, 62.8% experienced back pain within the last seven days. Workers who described bending over and twisting as part of their job functions were much more likely to experience pain in one or more anatomical regions, as were workers who frequently worked overtime. Of note, workers who performed more dynamic and fewer repetitive movements on the job were less likely to experience back pain.
Brazilian Journal of Epidemiology, March 2014

Mental Attitude: Cynics at Higher Risk for Dementia.
Cynical, distrustful people may be at a higher risk of dementia, according to a new Finnish study. Researchers found that people with high levels of cynical distrust were three times more likely to develop dementia compared to people with low levels of cynicism. One possible explanation could be that individuals who are more wary of others may also be less socially active, which can increase their dementia risk.
Neurology, May 2014

Health Alert: Over 1 in 10 Elderly Injured by Outpatient Care.
According to new research, nearly 11% of Medicare patients are victims of medical injuries during outpatient care. The primary causes include receiving the wrong medication, an allergic reaction to a prescribed medication, or complications resulting from treatment.
Injury Prevention, May 2014

Diet: Mediterranean Diet May Prevent Childhood Obesity.
A new report finds that children who closely follow a diet rich in fish, nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables are 15% less likely to be overweight or obese in comparison with their peers who do not.
European Congress on Obesity, May 2014

Exercise: Bicycling Leads to Good Feelings.
Compared with all modes of transportation, people who ride their bicycles are the happiest, followed by automobile passengers and drivers.
Transportation, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Elevated Blood Pressure Number Determines Risks.
New research points to the type of heart risk individuals face based on which number of their blood pressure reading is high. Researchers found that an elevated systolic blood pressure (top number) was associated with an increased risk of bleeding strokes and stable angina while those with a higher diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) were more likely to be diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Lead investigator Dr. Eleni Rapsomaniki writes, "Our estimates provide vital new information that can be used to improve patient counseling and decision-making for people with hypertension, which are currently based mainly on the risks of heart attack and stroke, and will help to focus guidelines and doctors to the cardiovascular conditions that might be more common, and in which screening and treatments are more likely to have an effect."
The Lancet, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — More Pain-Free Days!

Chiropractic: More Pain-Free Days!
A randomized trial involving 400 chronic low back pain patients found patients who received a course of twelve spinal manipulation treatments experienced 22.9 more pain-free days and 19.8 more disability-free days over the next year compared with patients who received no treatment.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, June 2014

Mental Attitude: Stress Reduces Male Fertility.
Past studies have linked stress to a number of health problems including heart disease, asthma, obesity, and depression. A new study suggests that stress can also reduce male fertility. Researchers found that men who experienced two or more stressful life events over the previous year had lower sperm quality compared with men who did not experience any stressful life events. They also found that regardless of stress, jobless men had lower semen quality than those who were employed.
Fertility and Sterility, May 2014

Health Alert: Worldwide Obesity Rates Significantly Increased Over the Last 33 Years.
During the past three decades, there has been a significant increase in worldwide obesity rates with no significant decline noted in any country. Investigators found that over the previous 33 years, worldwide overweight and obesity rates for adults have increased 27.5%, while rates among children and adolescents increased by 47.1%.
Lancet, May 2014

Diet: Do You Eat White Bread?
According to new research, when white bread is a staple of an individual’s diet, they are 40% more likely to become overweight or obese compared with those who eat whole grain bread. The researchers conclude, "Consumption of white bread [of] two portions per day or more showed a significant direct association with the risk of becoming overweight or obese."
European Congress on Obesity, May 2014

Exercise: Helps Reduce Amphetamine Use.
In some regions of the United States, nearly 20-25% of substance abuse admissions are for amphetamine abuse. A study involving mice showed a relationship between increased physical activity and decreased consumption of available amphetamines. If this corresponds to human subjects, exercise may become a useful tool to help individuals recover from amphetamine drug abuse.
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, April 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Bad Sunburns While Young Tied to Higher Skin Cancer Risk.
A new report suggests that women who get five or more sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 have an 80% increased risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Besides melanoma, these groups of women also have a 68% greater risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Dr. Abrar Qureshi, professor and chair of the department of dermatology at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, explains, "Parents may need to be advised to pay more attention to protection from early-life sun exposure for their kids in order to reduce the likelihood of developing melanoma as they grow up. Older individuals should also be cautious with their sun exposure, because cumulative sun exposure increases skin cancer risk as well."
American Association for Cancer Research, May 2014