Dr. Darren Taylor, Daily Health Update

DAILY HEALTH UPDATE, Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

Courtesy of: Dr. Darren Taylor

Mental Attitude: Are Children with More Caring, Less Controlling Parents Happier Later in Life? According to surveys completed by 5,000 United Kingdom residents, happiness and life satisfaction may be the result of having parents who are both caring and less psychologically controlling. Researcher Dr. Mai Stafford explains, "We found that people whose parents showed warmth and responsiveness had higher life satisfaction and better mental wellbeing throughout early, middle, and late adulthood... By contrast, psychological control can limit a child's independence and leave them less able to regulate their own behavior." The Journal of Positive Psychology, September 2015

Health Alert: One in Ten Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims 10% of pregnant women in the United States admit to drinking alcohol, and 30% of these women binge drink. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk the pregnancy will end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery and can also place an unborn child at serious risk for birth defects, developmental problems, and disabilities. Dr. Coleen Boyle, the director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, urges women to avoid alcohol completely during their pregnancy.                 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 2015

Diet: High-Protein Diets Improve Blood Sugar Control in Diabetics. High-protein diets appear to improve blood sugar control among those with type 2 diabetes without any harm to kidney function. A small study found that type 2 diabetics who followed a high- protein diet for six weeks experienced improved liver enzyme tests, reduced liver fat and HbA1c values, and had a significant improvement in kidney function. Diabetologia, September 2015

Exercise: Exercise & Diet Improve Fertility Among Women with PCOS. It is estimated that five million women in the United States have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Symptoms include pelvic pain, excess hair growth, weight gain, acne, irregular menstrual periods, and infertility. A new study finds that exercise and weight loss can help improve fertility among women with PCOS. Lead author Dr. Richard S. Legro writes, "The research indicates preconception weight loss and exercise improve women's reproductive and metabolic health. In contrast, using oral contraceptives alone may worsen the metabolic profile without improving ovulation. Lifestyle change is an important part of any fertility treatment approach for women with PCOS who are overweight or obese." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, September 2015

Chiropractic: Slouching Makes Your Upper Body Work Harder. Researchers compared muscle activity in twenty subjects as they raised and lowered their arms from both an upright and slouched sitting position and found slouching resulted in reduced maximum arm elevation and movement velocity. Electromyography of the muscles in the upper back and neck showed increased activity when the participants slouched. Such added effort could lead to muscle fatigue and a greater risk of injury. This study underscores the importance of maintaining good posture while seated. European Journal of Applied Physiology, October 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Retirement May Result in Poor Health. If you want to stay healthier in your senior years, you may want to consider not retiring. New research suggests that seniors who keep working appear healthier than those who quit the workforce. The study consisted of more than 83,000 Americans aged 65 and older and found that being unemployed or retired was associated with a greater risk of poor health. Lead author Dr. Jay Olshansky explains, "We shouldn't be forcing people out of the labor force if it's going to have a harmful effect on their health, and if they want to continue working and they are able to do their job. Remaining in the labor force is healthier for you. It's healthier because working keeps you physically and mentally engaged."Preventing Chronic Disease, September 2015 Quote: “The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.” - Brian Herbert

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Dr. Darren Taylor, Daily Health Update Monday October 19, 2015

Courtesy of: Darren Taylor, D.C.

Quote: “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” - J.K. Rowling Mental Attitude: Sleep Apnea May Hurt Kids’ School Performance. Investigators have found that children with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, perform worse on language arts, math, and science tests than kids without such conditions. The findings come from a review of sixteen studies dealing with sleep apnea or related disorders in children and academic achievement. Lead author Dr. Barbara Galland writes, "Given the potential adverse consequences of sleep-disordered breathing on health, behavioral, and learning outcomes in children, it is important for parents and clinicians to recognize symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing." Pediatrics, September 2015

Health Alert: Almost 50% of Adults in US Have Diabetes or Are at High Risk of Getting It. Nearly half of all American adults have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, claims a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers say that up to 14% of adults had either diagnosed or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in 2011-2012, and approximately 38% had diagnosed or undiagnosed prediabetes. Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2015

Diet: Eat More Nutrient-Rich Foods. Taste is an important part of what makes food appealing, but opting for nutrient-rich foods is essential to give your body the fuel it needs to perform its best. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests these nutrient-rich food choices: whole grains, a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables, lean protein such as fish, skinless poultry, beans, and low-fat dairy. American Academy of Family Physicians, September 2015

Exercise: Male Teens Who Exercise Think Better When They Grow Up. Using over thirty years of data from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study, researchers found a significant association between greater teenage physical fitness levels among males and better cognitive function two decades later. According to the research team, "The results suggest a stimulating effect of adolescent physical activity in males on executive functions in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of an active lifestyle amongst adolescent males." Journal of Physical Activity & Health, September 2015

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Rated High for Treatment of Dizziness and Balance Issues. Past research shows that about 30% of older adults experience dizziness and balance problems. A new study examining the types of treatment sought by patients with balance and dizziness complaints and the success of those treatments revealed that only 4.7% utilized chiropractic care. However, those patients who did see a chiropractor reported the highest treatment success rate for their dizziness and balance issues. The authors speculate that most dizziness and balance problems in older individuals may be caused by dysfunction in the neck that can be successfully addressed by chiropractic care. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, September 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D May Prevent Macular Degeneration in Some Women. Women who are deficient in vitamin D may be up to 6.7 times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than women without who have healthy vitamin D levels. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness, and it affects more than ten million Americans. The study's lead author, Dr. Amy Millen writes, "Most people have heard that you should eat carrots to help your vision. However, there appear to be many other ways that adequate nutrition can support eye health. Having adequate vitamin D status may be one of them." JAMA Ophthalmology, August 2015