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Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes: The Impact of Hypertension Treatment

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Wellness/Prevention: Blood Pressure Program Could Save Millions of Lives Globally.

Experts have sounded a clarion call for action in the battle against uncontrolled high blood pressure, asserting that treating just half of the individuals afflicted could avert a staggering 10 million heart attacks and strokes worldwide within the next decade. In a concerted effort to stem the tide of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pan American Health Organization have launched a groundbreaking initiative known as the Global Standardized Hypertension Treatment Project.

This ambitious program aims to mobilize resources and expertise on a global scale, leveraging standardized protocols and best practices to optimize hypertension treatment outcomes across diverse populations. By streamlining approaches to diagnosis, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications, the project seeks to empower individuals worldwide to take control of their blood pressure and mitigate their risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, emphasizes the urgency of the endeavor, asserting that hypertension represents a formidable foe in the fight against cardiovascular disease. He underscores the imperative for swift and decisive action, stressing that the question is not whether treatment of hypertension should be undertaken on a global scale, but rather how rapidly and effectively effective programs can be established.

As the Lancet highlighted in February 2015, the launch of the Global Standardized Hypertension Treatment Project heralds a new chapter in the global health landscape, one marked by collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to saving lives. By uniting efforts on a global scale, stakeholders stand poised to achieve unprecedented gains in the prevention and control of hypertension, forging a path toward a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.

Quote: “Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that’s what makes you strong.” ~ Sarah Dessen

The Interplay of Pain and Mobility in Elderly Fall Risk

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Chiropractic: Chronic Pain May Increase Fall Risk for Seniors!

The ramifications of falls among elderly individuals extend far beyond the physical injury itself, often encroaching upon independence and diminishing overall quality of life. Traditionally, impaired motor function has been pinpointed as a primary risk factor for falls among the elderly. However, a recent report published in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research in March 2015 has unveiled a startling revelation: older adults with ostensibly normal motor function are not immune to the perils of falls, particularly when grappling with chronic musculoskeletal pain across multiple body sites.

This finding challenges conventional wisdom and underscores the intricate interplay between pain and mobility in the context of fall risk among the elderly. Chronic musculoskeletal pain, pervasive among aging populations, introduces a formidable obstacle to mobility and stability, predisposing individuals to the hazards of falls despite outwardly intact motor function.

The implications of this report reverberate throughout the realms of geriatric healthcare and fall prevention. Healthcare providers must adopt a holistic approach to fall risk assessment, incorporating not only measures of motor function but also comprehensive evaluations of pain and musculoskeletal health. By identifying and addressing chronic pain as a modifiable risk factor, clinicians can mitigate the likelihood of falls and safeguard the independence and well-being of elderly patients.

Furthermore, this research underscores the imperative for multidisciplinary interventions aimed at enhancing mobility, managing pain, and fortifying musculoskeletal health among aging populations. Through targeted strategies encompassing physical therapy, pain management, and lifestyle modifications, healthcare professionals can empower older adults to navigate their golden years with confidence and vitality, minimizing the specter of falls and preserving their autonomy and quality of life.

Chiropractic: Abnormal Neck Posture Associated with Headache Risk.

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Chiropractic: Abnormal Neck Posture Associated with Headache Risk.

After comparing neck x-rays of patients with cervicogenic headaches (or headaches originating from dysfunction in the neck) to neck x-rays of healthy controls, researchers found that just a 3-4° difference in cervical lordosis (curve) is associated with an 8% increased risk for developing this type of headache.

 

Physical Therapy, February 2015

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Diet: Are Fruits and Vegetables Good for Your Lungs?

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Diet: Are Fruits and Vegetables Good for Your Lungs?

A meta-analysis of 38 studies indicates that eating fruits and vegetables can have a protective effect on the lungs. After reviewing data concerning nearly five million individuals, researchers conclude that consuming up to two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables per day is associated with as much as a 16% reduced risk for developing lung cancer.

 

Lung Cancer, February 2015

 

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Wellness/Prevention: Eat More Carrots to Reduce Diabetes Risk!

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Wellness/Prevention: Eat More Carrots to Reduce Diabetes Risk!

A diet rich in alpha-carotene and beta-carotene can reduce a person’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 22%. The most common source of carotenes in the American diet is carrots; however, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potato, spinach, and broccoli are also great food sources of alpha-carotene and/or beta-carotene.

Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases, December 2014

 

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Quote: “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

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From the “No Kidding” files: Light Activity Good for Seniors’ Hearts.

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Exercise: Light Activity Good for Seniors’ Hearts.

Light physical activity appears to benefit older adults’ hearts even if they suffer from mobility issues. Research involving almost 1,200 elderly adults with limited mobility revealed that those who fit some movement into their day, such as light housework or slow walking, had a lower risk of suffering a heart attack over the following ten years. Senior researcher Dr. Thomas Buford adds, “I think this and other studies are showing us it’s never too late for people to benefit from physical activity.”

Journal of the American Heart Association, February 2015

 

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Diet: Unhealthy Foods on the Rise in Developing Nations.

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Diet: Unhealthy Foods on the Rise in Developing Nations.

While citizens in wealthier nations may be eating healthier foods, developing nations are consuming more processed meats and sugar-sweetened drinks than ever before. Senior study author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian warns, “There is a particularly urgent need to focus on improving diet quality among poorer populations. If we do nothing, under-nutrition will be rapidly eclipsed by obesity and non-communicable diseases, as is already being seen in India, China, and other middle-income countries.”

 

The Lancet Global Health, February 2015

 

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Wellness/Prevention: Lowering Diabetes Risk Among Pre-Diabetics.

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Wellness/Prevention: Lowering Diabetes Risk Among Pre-Diabetics.

University of Michigan Medical School researchers have found that healthy weight-loss strategies can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among prediabetics by as much as 28% over a three-year period.

British Medical Journal, February 2015

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Quote: “Remember, darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good.” ~ P.C. Cast

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Chiropractic: Prevention Is Key to Avoid Back Pain.

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Chiropractic: Prevention Is Key to Avoid Back Pain.

The American Chiropractic Association offers these suggestions to help protect your back and improve your spinal health: maintain a healthy diet and weight, exercise regularly, maintain proper posture, avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest, quit smoking, and use good body mechanics when lifting.

 

American Chiropractic Association, August 2014

 

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Diet: Experts Say a Little Fat & Sugar OK for Kids if Diet Is Healthy.

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Diet: Experts Say a Little Fat & Sugar OK for Kids if Diet Is Healthy.

Children’s eating habits are a growing concern due to the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States and other Western countries. A leading group of pediatricians suggests that a little sugar and fat is okay in a child’s diet if it helps them eat more fruits and vegetables. Researcher Dr. Robert Murray comments, “Think of sweeteners, fat, salt, and spices as ways to make nutrient-rich foods more palatable to children.”

 

Pediatrics, February 2015

 

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