Week of Monday, October 26th, 2020
Health Alert
Hypertension Common in Midlife. Among a group of 2,930 middle-aged adults participating in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Disparities in Stroke study, researchers observed that 42% developed hypertension over a nine-year period. However, they found each of the following health indicators/behaviors could reduce one’s risk for high blood pressure by up to 6%: healthy weight and diet, regular exercise, and normal blood glucose and cholesterol readings.
Journal of the American Heart Association, September 2020
Diet
Omega-3s May Help Fight Depression in Soon-To-Be and New Moms. An analysis of data from 18 randomized controlled studies found evidence that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid supplement may aid in the treatment or prevention of perinatal depression.
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, September 2020
Exercise
Physical Activity at Work Important to Health. According to a recent study that assessed the fitness and physical health of young adults, those who primarily worked at a desk were more likely to have poor fitness, a large waist circumference, and an increased risk for obesity. On the other hand, participants in the construction industry exhibited superior back flexibility, trunk lifting scores, and aerobic capacity. The findings suggest that workplace interventions to increase physical activity in the office environment could lead to improvements with respect to both fitness and physical health among those who spend their day at a computer workstation
International Journal of Forensic Engineering and Management, January 2020
Chiropractic
Spinal Manipulation Improves Soccer Kicking Strength. In a recent experiment involving former varsity levels soccer players, researchers observed a significant increase in ball velocity and peak activation of the knee extensor muscles among participants after a single application of spinal manipulative therapy.
Journal of Strength Conditioning Research, August 2020
Mental Attitude
PTSD May Increase Dementia Risk. Following a review of findings from eight studies that included long-term data concerning nearly 1.7 million adults, researchers report that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may increase the risk for dementia by 55%.
British Journal of Psychiatry, September 2020
Wellness/Prevention:
Quit Smoking for a Healthier Gut. During the last decade, several studies have demonstrated that a healthier gut microbiome is associated with a reduced risk for a variety of poor health outcomes. In a study that included 36 smokers who participated in a twelve-week smoking cessation program, researchers observed that abstaining from cigarettes led to positive changes in the population of bacteria in the gut, which may result in a host of secondary health benefits for those who quit smoking.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, September 2020