More Responsibility, Less RA

Having more stress and responsibility, what researchers call high psychological demands, may make you lose sleep or even feel grumpy, but according to Swedish scientists it also reduces your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But those who have jobs that make them feel “job strain”, a combination of high psychological demands and a low level of control at work, are at a 30 percent higher risk of developing RA.

Source: Health Insider

Is Obesity Contagious?

Now that your teens and pre-teens are eating school lunch with their buddies again, be aware: their tablemates’ weight, says a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may affect how much your kids eat. The research, conducted at the State University of New York at Buffalo, looked at children between the ages of nine and 15. Scientists found that while all the kids ate more when eating with friends, the overweight kids put away an average of 300 calories more when they were with other overweight kids than when they were with slimmer pals. Plus, the friendships themselves seemed to affect calorie consumption: Overweight kids who are with other overweight kids who were already their friends consumed 250 more calories than they did when they dined with overweight kids they’d just met. What to do if you’re worried about your youngster’s weight? The best strategy is to model healthy eating and exercise at home.

Source: Health Insider

Family Stability, Not Structure, Helps Kids Succeed

Kids who grow up in stable one-parent homes, defined as always living only with the single parent, generally experience the same levels of academic and behavioral success as those in households with two married parents, according to new research. The study, published in the new book, Marriage and Family: Perspectives and Complexities (Columbia University Press), looked at nearly 5,000 mothers and more than 11,000 kids nationwide, focusing on kids of married moms and kids born to mothers who were always single. The results suggest that what’s key for many kids is life in a household where they don’t experience divorce or other changes in parenting, not whether it is a single-parent home or a married home. But there were some differences: Behavioral health and math and reading test scores for White and Hispanic kids from stable single-parent and stable married homes were quite similar, but Black kids living in single-parent homes had lower math and reading test scores than those in married homes, though they did not experience additional behavioral challenges. The takeaway? That family transitions may be more jarring to kids than living in single-parent homes.

Source: Health Insider

Organic Foods -- More Nutritious Now?

In August, I reported on a British study that found no significant nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods. More recently, researchers in France came to some different conclusions. In compiling their own data from various good-quality studies, they found that organic produce had higher levels of minerals, like magnesium and iron, and more polyphenol antioxidants.

What to make of all this? Many factors affect a food’s nutrient composition, including the plant variety, soil quality, climate and season, when it’s picked, and how it’s processed and stored. You’d do well eating more fruits and vegetables, no matter how they are grown. But if you want to reduce your exposure to pesticide residues and lessen your environmental impact, organic foods are the clear winner.

Source: Health Insider

Does Your Inhaler Work?

If you believe it does, you are more likely to use it. A new study of 261 people with asthma published in the Annals of Asthma, Allergy& Immunology found that participants who believed their inhaler worked and it was “important” to take, even while symptom-free, were more likely to comply with their treatment regimen than those who didn’t. Participants concerned about side effects were half as likely to take their meds. If you have questions or concerns about your asthma meds make sure to bring it up with your doctor.

Source: Remedy Life

“One-Stop Shopping” For Food Safety Info

A major criticism of how our government oversees the safety of our food supply is that different regulatory agencies are responsible for different arenas. The FDA, for example, oversees produce and most packaged foods, while the USDA oversees meat and dairy; meanwhile, it’s the CDC that tracks food-borne illnesses. There are no imminent plans to overhaul the system as many health experts would like to see happen, but there is a new website (www.foodsafety.gov) that, for the first time, fuses critical food safety information from all these agencies.

It provides free information on a range of topics, from how to select fish low in mercury and how to store your eggs safely, to the latest food recalls and who to contact if you think you’ve become ill from tainted food. Though it would be nice to see the government put more resources into preventing food recalls and food-borne illnesses in the first place, this web site at least offers resources, all in one place, that can help keep you and your family safe at the dinner table.

Source: Health Insider

Why Fat May Make You Hungry

Does eating fatty foods leave you wanting more, even if you should be full? The reason may be all in your head, literally. According to a study from UT Southwestern Medical Center, certain fats, those in butter, cheese, milk, and beef, trigger the brain to suppress normal appetite, regulating signals. “Brain chemistry can change in a very short period of time,” said the study’s lead author. And “since you’re not being told by the brain to stop eating, you overeat.” Moreover, the effects lasted about three days.

True, this was a rodent study, and the findings may not apply to humans. But if they do, this helps explain why it can be so hard to get back on track with your diet if you (inadvertently, of course) overindulge in ice cream or burgers, say. The good news is that only unhealthy saturated fats interfered with appetite regulation, not healthy unsaturated fats, such as those in olive oil and avocadoes.

Source: Health Insider

Seasonal Allergies are Back

As summer turns to fall, ragweed, a type of weed that blooms mostly in America’s East and Midwest, will grace our air with pollen, leading to days and nights of coughing and sneezing. According to an article in the U.S. News and World Report, the weed produces one billion pollen grains. Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your allergies at bay, such as staying indoors when pollen counts are highest and taking a shower before going to bed. Get more tips from the American Lung Association. For more information on ragweed, visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Source: Remedy Life

Milk for Milk Allergies

If your child has milk allergies the answer may be…more milk? That’s what researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center suggest in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In the study, researchers followed-up on 18 children with milk allergies, who during a 2008 study were given increasing doses of milk or dairy products to teach their body to tolerate it. They found that among the participants, six could continue to drink milk without a problem, whereas seven kids had a mild reaction after drinking milk. Does this mean you should go buy a gallon of milk? Not yet, but it does offer hope that the body’s immune system can be retrained when it comes to certain allergies.

Source: Remedy Life

High Rate of Depression Among People with Chronic Kidney Disease

One in five people with chronic kidney disease (20%) suffers from depression, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease, according to new research conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Depression rates among patients with other chronic diseases include: diabetes, 11%; congestive heart failure, 14%; and coronary artery disease after heart attack, 16%.

Research is already under way to determine whether antidepressant medication would be tolerated in people with kidney disease and whether such treatment can improve depression.

Source: Health Insider

Depression and Anxiety Common in Preschoolers

A large six-year study that tracked children ranging in age from 5 months to 5 years reports that 15% of participants had typically high symptoms of depression and anxiety, and that these children were more likely to have mothers with a history of depression.

The study, published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, also found that difficult temperament at 5 months was the most important predictor of depression and anxiety in children.

Source: Health Insider

Non-Drinkers More Likely To Be Depressed Than Moderate Drinkers

It probably doesn’t surprise you that heavy drinkers have a greater tendency to be depressed, but several studies show that people who don’t drink at all also have high levels of depression and anxiety. Case in point: A team of Norwegian and British scientists recently reported in the medical journal Addiction that heavy drinkers as well as teetotalers have higher levels of depression and anxiety than those who drink moderately.

Even when researchers accounted for people who had quit drinking because of problems with alcohol, the findings held true: 17.3% of abstainers reported anxiety, while 15.8% reported depression. The happiest people were those who averaged about two alcoholic drinks per week.

Source: Health Insider

New Insights on Gender and Heart Attacks

Women, according to a new study, are more likely than men to die within 30 days of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which causes unstable angina or a heart attack.

But in analyzing data on more than 136,000 participants, researchers pointed to a number of factors that explained the mortality gender gap – including the severity and type of ACS and the fact that women with ACS were older and had a greater incidence of underlying conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes. Understanding such differences between men and women can lead to better diagnosis and treatment of ACS for everyone.

Source: Health Insider

Evidence Backs Soy

A number of studies have shown that consuming soy protein can reduce the risk of heart disease – primarily because soy helps to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.

Now a new study in the Journal of Nutrition shows that this benefit extends to people with type 2 diabetes, who are especially high risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. Researchers found that consuming 40 grams of soy per day for two months significantly lowered LDL cholesterol levels in a small group of subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Want to be a Chiropractor?

To help educate students and their families about the possibility of a career as a doctor of chiropractic, ACA has put together an 18-page brochure, “Your Career in Chiropractic,” detailing the educational requirements and licensing procedures for a DC, as well as some background information on the profession itself. The brochure also contains profiles of several practicing doctors of chiropractic, as well as a chiropractor student.

At ACA, we often receive calls from students or guidance counselors who are looking for information on careers in chiropractic. We also hear from doctors of chiropractic who will be speaking to student groups or giving presentations about their profession and are interested in a simple, informative handout. This brochure provides all the information in one easy-to-read document.

“Your Career in Chiropractic” is available on the ACA’s Web site, www.acatoday.org/CareerKit.

Source: ACA

New Pilot on Quality Shows Cost- Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care

A new pilot program shows that conservative health care, including chiropractic, may reduce overall health care costs in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, such as back and neck pain. The pilot, conducted by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield to measure quality of patient care for its members in Iowa and South Dakota, also shows promising outcomes for the patients choosing chiropractic and other conservative care.

“The cost-effectiveness and safety of chiropractic has been documented in several studies. ACA is pleased that insurance companies are starting to recognize the value that doctors of chiropractic and other conservative providers can offer to their members,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “Especially during the healthcare reform debate, it’s important that chiropractic and other conservative care are taken into serious consideration as a cost-effective alternative to the utilization of expensive surgery and hospital-based care,” he added.

Wellmark conducted the Physical Medicine Pilot on Quality in 2008 for Iowa and South Dakota physical medicine providers. A total of 238 chiropractors, physical therapists and occupational therapists provided care to 5,500 members with musculoskeletal disorders. According to Wellmark, data from participating clinicians show that 89 percent of the patients treated in the pilot reported a greater than 30 percent improvement in 30 days.

The pilot compared data for Wellmark members who received care from doctors of chiropractic or physical therapists with a member population with similar demographics who did not receive such services. The comparison showed that those who received chiropractic care or physical therapy were less likely to have surgery and experienced lower total healthcare costs, according to Wellmark.

Source: ACA

Dr. Bob Moulas And The Five Components Of A Successful Golf Swing

Goals of Spinal Decompression

The main goal in spinal decompression is to decrease intradiscal pressure while targeting an exact disc. This reduction has a powerful influence on the healing process, by increasing blood and fibroblast supplies. Pain relief is accomplished by decreasing pressure on the soft tissue. When intradiscal pressures are reduced into the negative range of about 175mm/hg, true spinal decompression occurs in the disc and nerve roots. This effect causes retraction of herniations, and increases the influx of protein, oxygen and other co-factors. This in turn facilitates disc repair, and reduces leakage from the nucleus. The end result is a healthier, happier spinal disc.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal Decompression is relatively new in healthcare, the research has yet to catch up. However, preliminary studies, although limited, are very favorable in outcomes targeted in reduction of pain and an increase in activities of daily living. A six-week course of twenty decompression treatments significantly reduced the severity of chronic low back pain in 89% of treated patients from 6.4 to a 3.1 on the visual analog scale, where 0 is no pain and 10 is severe pain, after two weeks, and to 0.8 after completion of treatment. Oswestry Disability scores improved from 23.7 to only 5.5 at the end of therapy. No significant adverse events or safety issues resulted from these treatments.

Observationally, my outcomes with decompression over the last few years have mirrored the above preliminary research results. The most important factor in achieving a favorable outcome is to have an accurate diagnosis, primarily through MRI results and, again, I urge every doctor utilizing decompression to maintain control over that decision by becoming an expert at reading your own MRI’s. To use a computer metaphor; “Garbage in – garbage out.”

Source: Robert A. Kenul. D.C.

Success Secret # 2 Fall in Love with the Process

“When I was fifteen, I had a clear vision of myself winning the Mr. Universe contest and was driven by that thought. It was a very spiritual thing in a way, because I had such faith in the route, the path, that it was never a question in my mind that I would make it.”

Driven by his vision of becoming Mr. Universe, he worked out five hours a day, loving every minute of it, because he felt that each time he went to the gym, he was one step closer to winning the competition. At age 20, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the youngest man to win the Mr. Universe title.

“If you will trust the process, fall in love with the process, and consistently and persistently work the process, you will realize your dream.”

Source: Ruben Gonzalez

Success Secret # 1 How to Double Your Income

Take the average of what five people you spend the most time with make in a year, and you’ll get your annual income. Ninety percent of success is determined by who you hang around with. Why? Because successful people think differently than unsuccessful people and you become like the people you associate with. If you want to double your income, start hanging around people who make twice what you do and let them teach you how to win more. Remember, successful people like to talk about success.

Source: Ruben Gonzalez

“You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Are the people and things around you helping you toward success – or are they holding you back?”

Source: W. Clement Stone

Sports-Related Injuries in Children

Inside the Numbers

It is estimated that 3.5 million children under the age of 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year and that almost one-third of all injuries incurred during childhood are related to sports activities, with the most common injuries being strains and sprains. Here are the estimated number of children injured each year by sport:

· Football: 350,000+
· Basketball: 300,000+
· Soccer: 140,000+
· Baseball: 120,000+
· Swimming: 43,000+
· Wrestling: 33,500+
· Gymnastics: 26,500+
· Hockey: 21,000+
· Track and Field: 17,000+

In addition to the health consequences, the financial costs for treating injuries are estimated to be between $3 billion and $4 billion a year. In addition, the impact of childhood sports injuries on the number of school days missed can be significant. The Institute for Preventative Sports Medicine estimates that each year, there are almost 212 million school days missed by students attributable to musculoskeletal injuries, the vast majority of which are sports-related injuries.

Source: Claudia Annig D.C.

Show Policy-Makers Chiropractic Counts

With health care reform looming, what better time to contact legislators and policy-makers and share the rationale for giving more patients more access to the services you provide? To that end, the Government Relations Working Group of the Chiropractic Summit has created a 28-page policy document that outlines how chiropractic can best be utilized in a reformed health care system and documents how chiropractic’s clinical and cost-effectiveness can relieve pressure on the “current failing system.”

Available online from state and national chiropractic organizations, the paper can be printed and downloaded for lobbying purposes at no charge.

Source: Dynamic Chiropractic

Chiropractic Research You’ve Been Waiting For?

· Just – released pilot study: chiropractic reduces health care costs, need for surgery.

Findings from the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield 2008 Physical Medicine Pilot on Quality, a one-year pilot program designed to measure patient quality of care, suggest significant clinical outcomes and health care cost reductions attributable to the use of chiropractic and other physical medicine services. Patients who received chiropractic or physical therapy had lower total health care costs and were less likely to have surgery than demographically similar Wellmark members who did not receive services.

Source: Dynamic Chiropractic

How to Deal with Fear and Anxiety

· When fear and anxiety come up – try to recall the thought you were just having.

· Write it down so that you remember the thought.

· Analyze the thought – is it a valid thought or is it simply based on wrong perception or not being prepared?

· Change the thoughts – create thoughts of the opposite and turn them into affirmations. “I don’t know how” – becomes “ I know how.” “I might make a mistake” becomes “I’m doing everything right.”

· Prepare yourself – make sure you are well prepared for every situation.

· Change your actions – break the pattern that leads to anxiety. If you get anxious when you walk in front of a hospital – take a different route, or walk with a friend to break your concentration on the hospital.

· Focus on what you want.

· Acknowledge your success and pat yourself on the back for achieving goals.

· Talk to a Doctor – anxiety can be a medical problem so you should speak with a doctor.

Source: Karim Hajee

Keys to Creating Wealth

• Stay focused on your financial goals.

• Remember the plan to achieve your financial goals.

• Be realistic with your time frame.

• Do 3 things everyday to accumulate wealth.

• Accept and Understand that having wealth is a good thing.

• The more money you have the more people you will be able to help.

• Remove negative thoughts about money.

• Create wealth building affirmations.

• Plant the feeling of having wealth.

• Expand possibilities with wealth – think of all the possible ways there are to make more money.

• Visualize your wealth – see yourself being wealthy.

Source: Karim Hajee

5 SIGNS OF A HEALTHY BABY

If you’re a parent, whether a new or seasoned one, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the APGAR score, but chances are you have little or no idea what it really means beyond the fact that a high score is good news for your newly delivered baby, while a low score suggests your newborn may require more than standard medical attention in their first moments of life. Here’s what each letter stands for and what different scores indicate:

Appearance refers primarily to skin color.

Pink body and extremities scores 2; blue all over scores 0

(not a good sign of health).

Pulse rate of at least 100 beats per minute scores a 2;

pulse that is absent (another very bad sign) scores a 0.

Grimace is an evaluation of reflex irritability; if the newborn

Coughs, sneezes or pulls away when stimulated, that’s a

2. No response to stimulation scores a 0.

Activity is assessed by muscle tone – active movement scores 2, while none scores 0.

Respiration (breathing) considered strong is awarded a

score of 2; no breath scores a 0.

The APGAR test is performed one and five minutes after birth, and may be repeated thereafter if initial scores are low. In general, a total combined score of 7-10 is considered normal, 4-6 is fairly low, while any score below 3 is critically low. Bear in mind that a low score at one minute which improves at five minutes may not be indicative of a health issue, but a consistently low score definitely requires medical attention.

Source: To Your Health