DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Thursday, November 21 , 2013 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” ~ Albert Camus

Mental Attitude: Accidental Awareness During Surgery! It's estimated that 1 in 15,000 surgical patients experience "accidental awareness" during a surgical procedure either because they weren't fully anesthetized or began to regain consciousness before their operation was finished. In this horrific scenario, the patient feels the intense pain of the surgery but is unable to let anyone know, possibly leading to lasting emotional scars. Researchers believe they've found the point when the brain has fully lost consciousness by monitoring the "slow-wave" brain activity of anesthetized patients in response to exposure to a variety of stimuli. This finding may lead to the safer and more effective delivery of anesthesia in the future.  Science Translational Medicine, October 2013

Health Alert: Changes in Stroke Demographics. Between 1990 and 2010, the burden of stoke (illness and death) shifted from those over age 75 to those under age 75. Stroke sufferers under age 75 account for 62% of new strokes, 45% of stroke-related deaths, and 72% of stroke-related illness and disability. The Lancet Global Health, October 2013

Diet: Is Saturated Fat's Role in Heart Disease a Myth? British cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra writes that recent studies have not supported any significant association between saturated fat intake and cardiovascular risk. He further points out that some research shows saturated fats in dairy products actually have a protective effect on the heart. BMJ, October 2013

Exercise: Exercise Makes Life With Arthritis Easier. A new study shows that regular exercise boosts quality of life and reduces health care costs for individuals with arthritis. According to researchers, meeting a recommended guideline for physical activity of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week can result in the addition of between 10 and 20 more days of good health per year. They suggest that even if this guideline is not met, increasing physical activity in any capacity could enhance quality of life and lower healthcare costs for people with arthritis. American College of Rheumatology, October 2013

Chiropractic: Effective for Torticollis. A seven-month-old male infant who was diagnosed with congenital muscular torticollis responded to chiropractic manipulation, trigger point therapy, specific stretches, and pillow positioning exercises with excellent results. Journal Of Manipulative Physiologic Therapeutics, October 1993

Wellness/Prevention: Kids Not Wearing Bike Helmets. Researchers recently analyzed medical records of 1,200 children who were treated for bicycle accident related injuries. Only about 11% of the children were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and children over age 12 were less likely to wear a helmet. Significant racial/ethnic differences in helmet use were noted as 35% of White children wore helmets compared to just 7% of Asian, 6% of Black and 4% of Hispanic children. The study's author, Dr. Veronic Sullins, writes, "Our study highlights the need to target minority groups [and] older children… when implementing bicycle safety programs.” American Academy of Pediatrics, October 2013

(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.)