Mental Attitude
Stress Can Lead to Mental Illness. A new study explains why people suffering from chronic stress are prone to mental health problems later in life. Researchers have found excess white matter in some areas of the brain in chronically stressed people. This excess of myelin disrupts the "delicate balance" of the brain, causing communication between brain cells to slip out of normal timing. It is this timing issue that most likely leads to anxiety and mood disorders.
UC Berkeley, February 2014
Health Alert
Industrial Chemicals Causing Neurodevelopmental Epidemic. Experts warn that exposure to industrial chemicals could be causing a “silent epidemic” of brain development disorders in children. Methylmercury, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyl, toluene, manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, DDT, tetrachloroethylene, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers are chemicals linked to brain development disorders. Exposure to such chemicals may be the cause of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia.
The Lancet Neurology, February 2014
Diet
Prenatal Vitamin A Deficiency Linked to Postnatal Asthma. A new animal study has found direct evidence of a link between vitamin A deficiency and postnatal airway hyperresponsiveness, which is a hallmark of asthma. The findings show the importance of sufficient vitamin A in the diet, which can be a challenge in developing countries. Researcher Dr. Wellington Cardoso writes, "Most pregnant women in the [United States] are probably getting enough vitamin A in their diet, but it's possible that their babies are not making proper use of it… We need to understand more precisely how early exposures of the fetus to adverse environmental factors can interfere with crucial developmental mechanisms, such as the one we found linking vitamin A to airway structure and function." The Journal of Clinical Investigation, February 2014
Exercise
Increased Independence in Older Adults. A small study involving 42 older adults (age > 60 years) finds that participating in regular physical activity increases independence and quality of life and decreases social isolation. The researchers report that many of the participants continued to stay active when they followed up with them a year later.
Nursing Older People, January 2014
Chiropractic
SARS-Related Pain Relieved. This chiropractic case-study involved three healthcare workers in Canada who suffered from residual neuromuscular pain caused by sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) several years before. Conservative chiropractic care included adjustments, soft tissue therapy, modalities, and rehabilitation. Progress was monitored with pain ratings, disability indices, and return to work status. The patients experienced intermittent pain relief and decreased disability following treatment. Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association, March 2011
Wellness/Prevention
Widespread Pain in Older Individuals. Widespread pain is believed to affect 10-15% of adults over age 50 and is a key characteristic for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. A three-year study found that non-restorative sleep is the largest predictor of new-onset widespread pain in older adults. Other predictors include anxiety, memory impairment, and poor physical health.
Arthritis & Rheumatology, February 2014
Quote
“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to
defend yourself or make excuses.”
~ Brian Tracy
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