Chiropractic

Health Alert: Chemical Exposure May Drive Earlier Menopause in Women.

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Health Alert: Chemical Exposure May Drive Earlier Menopause in Women.

Researchers have discovered that women exposed to high levels of certain chemicals found in household items, personal care products, plastics, and the environment typically begin to experience menopause two to four years earlier than women with less exposure to these chemicals (which include PCBs, pesticides, phthalates, and furan). Senior study author Dr. Amber Cooper adds, “Many of these chemical exposures are beyond our control because they are in the soil, water, and air. But we can educate ourselves about our day-to-day chemical exposures and become more aware of the plastics and other household products we use.” The research team recommends further research to determine how much exposure is needed to impact female health.

PLOS ONE, January 2015

Mental Attitude: Childhood Neglect May Affect Brain Development.

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Mental Attitude: Childhood Neglect May Affect Brain Development.

A new study finds that severe childhood neglect may cause structural changes to the brain, but early intervention may reverse such alterations. Researchers found that children who remained in institutional care exhibited structural changes in certain areas of the brain’s white matter which facilitate communication between different areas of the brain. However, they found that children who had been moved from institutional care to foster care had white matter similar to that of children who had never been in institutional care, suggesting that the movement to foster care reversed the white matter abnormalities. The researchers write, “Our findings have important implications for public health related to early prevention and intervention for children reared in conditions of severe neglect or adverse contexts more generally.” JAMA Pediatrics, January 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Preventing Second Hip Fractures.

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Wellness/Prevention: Preventing Second Hip Fractures.

After analyzing long-term data on nearly 40,000 first-time hip fracture patients, University of British Columbia researchers found that roughly 8% will experience a second hip fracture in the decade following their first hip injury. In light of this finding, they recommend that secondary hip fracture prevention interventions should continue beyond just the early post-fracture period. Bone, February 2015

Chiropractic: Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic…

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Chiropractic: Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic…

To become a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, an aspiring chiropractor must meet stringent academic and professional requirements. Currently, an individual must complete the following steps to become a licensed chiropractor: complete required general college-level studies, obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and complete a clinical internship through an accredited four-year chiropractic college program, pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ and/or other state-required examinations, and satisfy any other individual state-specific requirements for licensure, which include mandatory continuing education credits in all but one state. Additionally, a Doctor of Chiropractic can earn additional certifications in areas such as pediatrics, radiology, neurology, nutrition, spinal trauma, and more. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, August 2014

Exercise: Make it Fun and Keep Going.

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Exercise: Make it Fun and Keep Going.

When exercising, it is important to make your routine enjoyable and fun to help ensure that you keep exercising. The American Heart Association suggests the following: wear shoes that are comfortable and fit properly, wear clothing that is appropriate for weather conditions, start slow, stick to a consistent workout time, make expectations reasonable for your health and abilities, include fun activities with family and friends, track you progress, and reward yourself for success. American Heart Association, February 2015

Mental Attitude: Money is the Top Stressor in the United States.

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Mental Attitude: Money is the Top Stressor in the United States.

Despite the ongoing economic recovery and an overall decline in stress levels, money worries continue to plague Americans. A new survey reveals that 64% of adults believe finances to be a significant source of stress, ranking higher than three other major sources of stress: work (60%), family responsibilities (47%), and health concerns (46%). Dr. Norman Anderson of the American Psychological Association explains, “Money is a very important component of establishing a secure life. When people are financially challenged, it makes sense that their stress level would go up.” American Psychological Association, February 2015

Wellness/Prevention: Reducing Work-Family Conflict Can Improve Sleep.

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Wellness/Prevention: Reducing Work-Family Conflict Can Improve Sleep.

A study involving hundreds of managers and employees at a firm in the United States found that employees enrolled in a program to reduce work-family conflicts reported improved sleep quality. The program, which lasted three months, included discussion groups, role-playing, and games. Managers were also trained to be supportive of employees’ family demands. Lead investigator Dr. Orfeu Buxton writes, “Work can be a calling and inspirational, as well as a paycheck, but work should not be detrimental to health. It is possible to mitigate some of the deleterious effects of work by reducing work-family conflict, and improving sleep.” Sleep Health, January 2015

Diet: Soda Consumption May Prompt Early Puberty in Girls.

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Diet: Soda Consumption May Prompt Early Puberty in Girls.

Harvard researchers report that girls who consume a lot of sugary drinks may enter puberty earlier than girls who do not consume such beverages. The female participants in their study who drank more than 1.5 servings of sugary drinks per day began having periods 2.7 months earlier than those who drank two or less sugary drinks per week. Study author Dr. Jenny Carwile adds, “Starting periods early is a risk factor for depression during adolescence and breast cancer during adulthood. Thus, our findings have implications beyond just starting menstruation early.” While this study does prove that drinking sugary drinks causes early puberty, the researchers add that there is no good reason for anyone to drink sugar-sweetened drinks or sodas regularly at any age. Human Reproduction, January 2015

Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Pain Affects School Teachers.

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Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Pain Affects School Teachers.

An assessment of 486 self-evaluation surveys from female school teachers in Saudi Arabia reveals that musculoskeletal pain is surprisingly prevalent in the profession. Their most common complaint was low back pain, followed by knee pain, heel pain, shoulder pain, upper back pain, hip joint pain, ankle pain, and neck pain. Furthermore, nearly half (46.1%) of the teachers surveyed claimed that their pain affected their teaching performance. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, November 2014

Exercise: Muscle Weakness Affects 1 in 5 Older Americans.

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Exercise: Muscle Weakness Affects 1 in 5 Older Americans. Twenty percent of Americans 80 years of age and older have weak muscle strength, according to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prior studies have linked fading muscle strength to slower walking speed and an increased risk of death. The CDC recommends that seniors should strive to maintain optimal physical conditioning through good overall preventive care, nutrition, and exercise.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2015