DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Wednesday, November 27 , 2013 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mental Attitude: People Lie More in the Afternoon. Researchers found that when presented with financial motivation for lying, cheating, or stealing, individuals lied more in the afternoon. According to Dr. Maryam Kouchaki of Harvard University, "[Organizations] may need to be more vigilant about combating the unethical behavior of customers or employees in the afternoon than in the morning… Whether you are personally trying to manage your own temptations, or you are a parent, teacher, or leader worried about the unethical behavior of others, our research suggests that it can be important to take something as seemingly mundane as the time of day into account.” Psychological Science, October 2013

Health Alert: Home Test for Strep Throat Could Save Trips to Doctor. Scientists have developed a home test for strep throat that is just as accurate as laboratory tests. This could reduce up to 230,000 medical office visits per year, as well as cut down on the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics. Annals of Internal Medicine, November 2013

Diet: Snack Healthier for a Better Smile. Avoid snacking on sugar-rich snacks and beverages as the added sugars in these products can combine with mouth bacteria to damage the teeth. Instead, try to consume healthier snacks such as raw fruits and vegetables and when you're done, remember to brush. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, July 2013

Exercise: Lack of Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Complications in Diabetics. Type 2 diabetics are five times more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke than non-diabetics. Compared with diabetics who exercise more than three hours per week, diabetics who exercise under two hours a week are 25% more likely to suffer a heart attack and 70% more likely for the cardiovascular event to be fatal. According to Dr. Björn Zethelius from the University of Uppsala in Sweden,"The message from this study is clear. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Engage in physical activity. Alongside diet, these are the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes treatment. If you are presently on a low level of physical activity, do more."  European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, November 2013

Chiropractic: Safe For Lumbar Disk Herniations. A systematic review of the risk of spinal manipulation as a treatment for lumbar disk herniations revealed that the chance of worsening a lumbar disk herniation following spinal manipulation is 1 in 3.7 million. The apparent safety of spinal manipulation when compared to other accepted treatments supports the further use of spinal manipulation as part of a conservative treatment plan. Journal of Manipulative Physiologic Therapeutics, March 2004

Wellness/Prevention: Smarter Blood Pressure Guidelines. Dr. Rod Hayward, professor of Medicine and Public Health and senior investigator at the VA Center for Clinical Management Research, suggests treatments for hypertension should focus on decreasing a patient's overall cardiovascular risk rather than just lowering their blood pressure to 140/80 mmHg. It's believed that this approach could prevent up to 180,000 heart attacks and strokes per year with an overall decrease in medication use. Circulation, November 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.)