DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Thursday, January 09, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.” ~ J.M. Barrie

Mental Attitude: Hypothyroidism Not Linked to Cognitive Impairment. Previous research has suggested a potential link between hypothyroidism (a condition in which the thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone) and mild cognitive impairment, a possible precursor to Alzheimer's disease. However, a study involving nearly 2,000 elderly adults found no greater incidence of mild cognitive impairment among participants with hypothyroidism compared to those with a normally functioning thyroid. JAMA Neurology, December 2013

Health Alert: High Chair-Related Injuries More Common than Thought. In the United States, a child is taken to the hospital about once every hour for high-chair or booster seat related injuries. A new study evaluated data from 2003 to 2010 and revealed that 93% of all injures involved a fall with about two-thirds of injuries involving children climbing or standing in their chairs prior to the incident. Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center of Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, adds, "The number one thing parents can do to prevent injuries related to high chairs is to use the safety restraint system in the chair. The vast majority of injuries from these products are from falls. Buckling your child in every time you use the high chair can help keep them safe." Nationwide Children's Hospital, December 2013

Diet: Low Folate in Male Diet Linked To Birth Defects in Offspring. A new study suggests a father’s diet prior to conception can affect his future children. Research involving mice reveals that the offspring of males who had insufficient dietary folate levels were 30% more likely to have birth defects (including cranio-facial and spinal deformities) than the progeny of males who had adequate levels of folate in their diet. These findings suggest that potential fathers need to think about what they eat, smoke, and drink, as their lifestyle choices could impact their children.  Nature Communications, December 2013

Exercise: Athletes and Pain Tolerance. According to a study by scientists at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, athletes appear to experience pain differently than the rest of us. Using data from 15 studies involving over 800 athletes and non-athletes, researchers determined that both groups have similar pain thresholds, but athletes have a much greater ability to tolerate pain. While more research is needed, the notion that pain tolerance can be modified by physical activity points to exercise as a therapy for managing chronic pain conditions. Pain, June 2012

Chiropractic: Stomach Pain? Consider Chiropractic. A 9-year-old girl who experienced stomach aches for seven weeks received full-spine chiropractic adjustments. Her aches began to subside following her first treatment. After just six visits, the patient was released from care as her symptoms had resolved. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 2008

Wellness/Prevention: Common Therapy for Sleep Apnea Reduces Blood Pressure. A recent study shows that the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment decreases diastolic blood pressure in patients with both sleep apnea and hypertension who required three or more medications to control their blood pressure. JAMA, December 2013

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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.)