DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Saturday, April 05, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”~ Franz Kafka

Mental Attitude: Autism, ADHD Tied to Gender Identity? A new study has found that the desire to be another gender is 7.6 times more common among children with autism and 6.6 times more common in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD). Study leader Dr. John Strang explains, "Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders may be less aware of the social restrictions against expressions of gender variance and therefore less likely to avoid expressing these inclinations." Investigators also found that children and adolescents who wanted to be another gender had higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Archives of Sexual Behavior, March 2014

Health Alert: Head Lice Growing Resistant to Meds. According to a new report, most head lice found in North America now carry a gene mutation that makes them resistant to standard over-the-counter treatments. Fortunately, several new compounds have been introduced that are effective in the fight against head lice. Unfortunately, they are currently only available by prescription so they may be more costly and add a bigger burden to the healthcare system as a whole. Journal of Medical Entomology, March 2014

Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Children's Sleep. New research involving children suggests that higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA are associated with better sleep, less bedtime resistance, less anxiety about sleep, and less waking during the night. According to the authors of the study, omega-3 blood levels in seven to nine-year-olds are alarmingly low, which may lead to poor sleep and problems with both behavior and learning. Journal of Sleep Research, March 2014

Exercise: Many Benefits. Regular exercise offers many benefits including improved flexibility, stronger muscles, improved bone density, and a healthier heart, just to name a few. The bottom line is that you are going to feel better if you exercise, so remember to set goals and make it fun. WebMD, May 2008

Chiropractic: Chiropractors Help with Weight Loss? Chiropractors who have training in nutrition and exercise therapies can help patients achieve their weight loss goals. Over the course of three months, patients in the study lost an average of 15 pounds (~6.8 kg). During this time, patients received weekly exercise and calorie restriction guidance/counseling from their chiropractor in addition to spinal manipulation.  Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, January 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Experts Debate Pap Test. A United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Panel is considering recommending the use of a human papiloma virus (HPV) test as the first step in cervical cancer screening in lieu of the standard Papanicolaou (Pap) test. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that causes genital warts and is a cause of the majority of cervical cancers. If a woman tests positive for high risk strains of the virus, a colposcopy would be performed, which allows physicians to get a clear view of genital anatomy and take a tissue sample for further testing. Food and Drug Administration, March 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 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.)