DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Friday, February 28, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

"Sometimes I get the feeling the aspirin companies are sponsoring my headaches."  ~Terri Guillemets

Mental Attitude: Dementia Risk for Women with Diabetes and High Estrogen Levels. A new report suggests that older women with both diabetes and elevated estrogen have a 14 times greater risk for developing dementia. Researcher Dr. Pierre-Yves Scarabin was surprised with the study results as previous research suggests that estrogen therapy may have a protective effect on the brain. He adds, "Considering the expected increase in the number of elderly people with diabetes and dementia, more research on this topic should be urgently conducted." Neurology, January 2014

Health Alert: Liver, Lung, & Skin Problems Linked to Third-Hand Smoke. A new study finds that the invisible remnant of tobacco smoke that clings to surfaces known as third-hand smoke increases lipid levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Researchers also discovered that third-hand smoke increases collagen production and inflammatory cytokine levels in the lungs, which has implications for pulmonary disease and asthma. Lead researcher Dr. Manuela Martins-Green adds, "There is still much to learn about the specific mechanisms by which cigarette smoke residues harm non-smokers, but that there is such an effect is now clear." PLOS ONE, January 2014

Diet: Breakfast Habits in Childhood Linked to Metabolic Syndrome. A recent study reveals that individuals who did not eat breakfast or ate an insubstantial breakfast as children were 68% more likely to develop metabolic syndrome in adulthood compared with their peers who ate substantial breakfasts. Metabolic syndrome is a term for a group of risk factors associated with heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. A person may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if they have three or more of the following metabolic risk factors: a large waistline, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, or high fasting blood sugar. The author of the study, Dr. Maria Wennberg, explains, "Further studies are required for us to be able to understand the mechanisms involved in the connection between poor breakfast and metabolic syndrome, but our results and those of several previous studies suggest that a poor breakfast can have a negative effect on blood sugar regulation." Umeå University, January 2014

Exercise: Yoga Benefits Cancer Survivors. According to a new study, yoga can reduce fatigue by 57% and reduce inflammation by 20% after cancer treatment. The study involved a group of women who completed breast cancer treatment followed by 12 weeks of yoga. Researchers found that women who practiced yoga the most frequently experienced the most benefits.  Journal of Clinical Oncology, January 2014

Chiropractic: Supports Immunity. The nervous system appears to have a modulating effect on the immune system. Thus, a better functioning nervous system may positively influence the body's immune system, improving its ability to combat infection. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, December 1993

Wellness/Prevention: Antioxidants Speed Up Lung Cancer Progression? New research on rats shows that consuming the commonly used antioxidants vitamin E and acetylcysteine in doses found in multivitamins may speed up the progression of lung cancer. Researchers found that mice with lung cancer who received the extra antioxidants in their diet had three times more tumors and died two times faster than mice with lung cancer that consumed no additional antioxidants. The authors stress that the study does not analyze the risk of developing cancer, but instead looks at how antioxidants may speed up progression of cancer that is already present. Science Translational Medicine, January 2014

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(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.)