DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Friday, April 25, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away.” ~ Stephen Hawking

Mental Attitude: Autism May Begin in the Womb. An analysis of cortical tissue from autistic children shows developmental abnormalities in the brain that appear to have occurred in utero, demonstrating for the first time that autism may begin in the womb even if symptoms don't manifest until early childhood. New England Journal of Medicine, March 2014

Health Alert: Does Your Doctor Raise Your Blood Pressure? According to a new report, patients’ blood pressure is noticeably higher when taken by a doctor than when taken by a nurse. This finding may lead to changes in the way blood pressure is taken in a clinical setting. Lead author Dr. Christopher Clark explains, "Doctors should continue to measure blood pressure as part of the assessment of an ill patient or a routine check-up, but not where clinical decisions on blood pressure treatment depend on the outcome." British Journal of General Practice, March 2014

Diet: Teens Reduce Sugary Drinks When Challenged. A 30-day challenge for teens to reduce sugar-sweetened drink use, referred to as the "Sodabriety," resulted in a substantial decrease in sugary-drink consumption and an increased percentage of high school students who shunned sugary drinks altogether. A surprising result of the challenge was a significant increase in water consumption after the start of the program without the promotion of water as an alternative beverage. The findings reveal that teenagers can be persuaded to reduce sugar-sweetened drinks with a little encouragement.  Journal of School Health, March 2014

Exercise: Marathon Training Boosts Heart Health. Researchers have found that marathon training for middle-aged men reduces their risk for future heart problems. In the study, investigators found that after completing an 18-week training program, men experienced a 5% reduction in bad cholesterol, a 4% decrease in total cholesterol, a 15% percent decrease in triglycerides, and a 1% reduction in body-mass index. The men also showed improvements in the size, shape, structure, and function of the heart after they completed their training. American College of Cardiology, March 2014

Chiropractic: Satisfied with Getting an Appointment? A survey of 150 patients found that 84.9% of respondents were highly satisfied with how quickly they could be seen by their chiropractor when calling to schedule an appointment. Satisfaction in this area as well as a convenient location, easy access to the office by phone, short wait times, time spent with the doctor, an explanation of what was done during the visit, and the doctor's technical skills and bedside manner are all variables involved in assessing quality of care. Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, November 2001

Wellness/Prevention: Extra Weight Beneficial for Older People? A new report finds that people aged 65 and over who have a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight range live longer than those with a BMI in the normal range. This suggests that current BMI guidelines are not suitable for older individuals. Study author Dr. Caryl Nowson writes, "Our results showed that those over the age of 65 with a BMI of between 23 and 33 lived longer, indicating that the ideal body weight for older people is significantly higher than the recommended 18.5-25 'normal' healthy weight range."American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2014

For More Information on Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Whiplash, and To Sign Up For Our Daily Health Update Emails, Go To:www.DrJeffAllynBlog.com or our website at:www.berkleychiropracticclinic.com 

(This information is brought to you in conjunction with www.Chiro-Trust.org, it is solely advisory and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.)