Mental Attitude: Does the Time of Year You Were Born Affect Your Mood? A new Hungarian study suggests that the season
during which a person is born can influence his or her risk for developing mood disorders in adulthood. Researchers found that
individuals born in the summer were more likely to have swift, frequent changes between cheerful and sad moods compared with
those born in the winter. Individuals born during spring and summer were more likely to be extremely positive and cheerful with high energy levels compared with those born during either autumn or winter. Those born in the fall were less likely to be depressed than individuals during the winter, while those born during winter were less likely to be irritable than those born during the other seasons. Researchers are unsure about the mechanisms involved, but are looking to see if there are genetic markers that are related to season of birth and mood disorders. European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, October 2014
Health Alert: Medication Errors Too Common for US Children. A child receives the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of
medication every eight minutes in the United States (US), according to a new report. Between 2002 and 2012, nearly 700,000 children under the age of six experienced an out-of-hospital medication error. Out of those episodes, 25% of the children were under one year of age. While 94% of the mistakes did not require medical treatment, errors during that time frame led to 25 deaths and about 1,900 critical care admissions. The most common mistakes involved pain medications (like aspirin), cough and cold medicines, and allergy medicines. Pediatrics, October 2014
Diet: Fish Consumption Lowers Hearing Loss Risk. Using data collected during the Nurses' Health Study II, a long-term study
involving over 65,000 female nurses, researchers have determined an association between fish consumption and risk of hearing loss.
They found that the women in the study who ate 2-4 servings of fish per week were 20% less likely to experience hearing loss when compared with those who rarely ate fish.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2014
Exercise: Exercise Benefits the Brain, But the Effect Decreases with Advancing Age. Regular exercise appears to improve
cerebral blood flow and visual memory until about age 70. In a recent study involving adults ages 60 to 77 years old who were regular treadmill users, researchers found that those who were 60 to 69 years old experienced increased blood flow to the hippocampus during exercise, thus improving the supply of oxygen and nutrients that positively affect the brain's metabolism. However, the researchers found the effect of exercise was less beneficial in participants over the age of 70. Further research is needed to determine the causes these changes and determine possible future remedies. Molecular Psychiatry, October 2014
Chiropractic: Thoracic Spine Manipulation Improves Pain in Patients with Mechanical Neck Pain. A systematic review of 44
studies revealed that thoracic spinal manipulation can provide short-term relief in patients with acute and sub-acute neck pain.
Investigators found evidence of improvements in pain levels, range of motion, and functional questionnaires regarding neck pain in
patients treated with thoracic spinal manipulation. Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, September 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Seeing Your Doctor Twice Per Year Helps Control Blood Pressure. According to research from the
American Heart Association, individuals who visit their healthcare provider at least twice per year are 3.2 times more likely to keep
their blood pressure under control. Nearly 80% of the 78 million adults with high blood pressure know they have the condition, and
only about half have it controlled below 140/90 mm Hg. The American Heart Association recommends that people with blood
pressure readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher make lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthy, and exercising.
Circulation, October 2014
Quote: “A moment of consideration often prevents a thousand apologies.” ~ Kevin J. Anderson
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