Week of: Monday, February 26th , 2024
“Well-arranged time is the surest mark of a well-arranged mind.” ~ Isaac Pitman
Health Alert: Low Vitamin D Linked to Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Young Adults. Among a group of 177 young adults aged 18-25 years, researchers observed that those with lower vitamin D serum concentrations were more likely to exhibit risk factors linked to an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. The findings suggest that assessing vitamin D status in young adults could signal healthcare providers as to which patients may benefit from additional testing and interventions to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease in the future. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, January 2024
Diet: Prunes May Benefit Postmenopausal Women. Consuming 50-100 grams of prunes a day can slow bone loss in postmenopausal women by altering proinflammatory cytokine secretion and monocyte activation. Journal of Nutrition, November 2023
Exercise: Combined Exercise Intervention Reduces Risk for Serious Events in Liver Cirrhosis Patients. An analysis of data from 11 randomized controlled trials revealed that patients with liver cirrhosis who engage in a fitness program that combines resistance and aerobic training are four times less likely to experience serious events such as portal hypertension, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, liver cancer, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, and coagulopathy. Journal of Gastroenterology, December 2023
Chiropractic: Chronic Neck Pain and Forward Head Posture. A systematic review that included 16 studies found that corrective postural exercises and manual therapies are effective interventions for improving pain and disability in patients with chronic neck pain associated with forward head posture. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of manual therapies and specific exercises when managing patients with chronic neck pain. HealthCare (Basil), December 2023
Mental Attitude: Twin Dementia Diagnosis May Be Risk Factor for Early Death for Sibling. Using data from the Swedish Twin Registry, researchers report that among fraternal twins, if one received a dementia diagnosis, the other twin had a slightly lessened life expectancy compared with fraternal twins in which neither developed dementia. The research team suspects this may be due to unhealthy habits acquired during childhood by both siblings, which may elevate the risk for dementia in one and conditions like heart disease in the other. Alzheimer's and Dementia, December 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Toothbrushing Could Be a Life Saver in the Hospital. New research suggests that brushing your teeth at least once a day during a stay in the intensive care unit can reduce the risk for pneumonia infection, leading to a lower mortality risk, shorter stay, and less time spent on a mechanical ventilator. JAMA Internal Medicine, December 2023