DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Saturday, October 05, 2013 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“Don't be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.”  ~ Natalie Babbitt

Mental Attitude: Is Early Dementia Screening Beneficial? The British Medical Journal warns that politically motivated efforts to screen the older population for mild cognitive impairment (known as pre-dementia) may lead to massive numbers of misdiagnosed cases of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. According to researchers, only 5-10% of people with mild cognitive impairment progress to dementia. As many as 40-70% of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment will not progress at all, and some may even see improvements in their cognitive functions as time passes.  British Medical Journal, September 2013

Health Alert: Copper Surfaces Destroy Norovirus. Scientists have discovered that surfaces that contain at least 60% copper are capable of destroying the highly contagious gastrointestinal bug norovirus on contact. Because copper rapidly destroys the genetic structure of norovirus, researchers believe there is no chance a copper resistant strain of norovirus can emerge. Copper will be an important addition to the prevention of norovirus infections, as currently there is no antiviral agents or vaccines.  PLoS ONE, September 2013

Diet: Low Salt Intake Increases Mortality Risk? A diet high in sodium (a component of salt) has been associated with an increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure); however, a diet with too little of salt's other component, chloride, can also lead to problems. A long-term study of nearly 13,000 patients found an association between low levels of chloride in the blood and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Hypertension, September 2013

Exercise: Brisk Walking Lowers Death Rates. 150 minutes a week of moderately intense walking combined with muscle strengthening exercises on two or more days per week can produce up to a 30% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 35% lower risk for cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke.  The Practitioner, September 2012

Chiropractic: Manipulation and Ear Infections. Forty six children with a diagnosis of otitis media who received chiropractic manipulation showed 93% improvement in all cases, 75% in 10 days or less, and 43% with only 1-2 treatments. Results indicate that limitation of medical intervention and the addition of chiropractic care may decrease the symptoms of ear infection in young children. Journal Of Manipulative Physiologic Therapeutics, March 1996

Wellness/Prevention: Broccoli Sun Screen? A new study reveals that applying sulforaphane to the skin may help combat skin cancer. Found in cruciferous vegetables like brocoli, sulforaphane is highly effective at inhibiting cancer-causing pathways. The authors note that sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays. University of Arizona Cancer Center, September 2013