DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Friday, February 07, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“At the time, my life just seemed too complete, and maybe we have to break everything to make something better out of ourselves.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk

Mental Attitude: Teens with Concussions Need Brain Rest to Speed Recovery. Researchers found that teens who engage in high levels of cognitive activity need more time to recover from concussion symptoms. Study author Dr. William Meehan writes, "Our findings suggest that while vigorous cognitive exertion is detrimental to recovery, more moderate levels of cognitive exertion do not seem to prolong recovery substantially. Thus, we recommend a period of near full cognitive rest acutely after injury, approximately 3-5 days, followed by a gradual return to sub-symptom levels of cognitive activity."  Pediatrics, January 2014

Health Alert: 25% of Health Care Workers Carry Diarrhea Spores on Their Hands. A new study suggests that one in four healthcare workers’ hands are contaminated with Clostridium difficile spores after caring for infected patients. Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Many healthcare workers could be passing on C. difficile to patients, even after routine alcohol-based hand rubbing, supporting the need for routine hand washing with soap and water after treating any infected patient, regardless of the setting. Study leader Dr. Caroline Landelle explains, "Because C. difficile spores are so resistant and persistent to disinfection, glove use is not an absolute barrier against the contamination of health care workers' hands. Effective hand hygiene should be performed, even in non-outbreak settings." Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, January 2014

Diet: Good News for the Fibromyalgia Sufferer. According to a small study, people who suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms like pain and morning fatigue might get relief from a simple vitamin D supplement. Study participants experienced a noticeable improvement in their symptoms up to 28 weeks after the study concluded. Researchers recommend that people with fibromyalgia talk to their doctor about regularly checking their vitamin D levels, especially during the winter time when sunlight is scarce. Elsevier, January 2014

Exercise: Boost Your Self-Control with Short Bouts of Exercise. A recent analysis of published evidence reveals that short bouts of moderately intense exercise boosts self-control. Researchers believe this is due to increased blood and oxygen flow to the pre-frontal cortex. They further conclude that exercise might be a treatment approach for conditions characterized by impaired higher brain functions, such as attention hyperactivity deficit disorder and autism, and may delay the ravages of dementia. British Journal of Sports Medicine, March 2013

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Patients Have Happier Knees. A new study finds that patients with knee osteoarthritis tend to have better knee function if they receive chiropractic care or massage therapy. Clinical Therapeutics, November 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Smoking During Third Trimester of Pregnancy Means Low Birth Weight for Baby. Using information collected from a sample pool of 140 expectant mothers, researchers estimate that each cigarette smoked during the third trimester of pregnancy reduces the baby's birth weight by 20 grams. Asociación RUVID, 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 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.)