A Little Can Go A LONG Way…
A new study in the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise suggests people who stay even moderately fit as they age may live longer than those who do not.
According to an August 21, 2009 Reuters’ article, “Our findings suggest that sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain (the) two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit healthy individuals,” lead researcher, Dr. Sandra Mandic of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, noted in an email to Reuters Health. She pointed out that nearly two-thirds of the least-fit study participants were not getting the minimum recommended amount of exercise — at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, like brisk walking, on five or more days a week. “These results emphasize the importance of improving and maintaining high fitness levels by engaging in regular physical activity,” Mandic said, “particularly in poorly fit individuals.”
And here’s something of MAJOR importance!!!!
The study showed a history of exercise was not a factor. In other words, it doesn’t matter if you used to be in shape. What matters is RECENT activity. This helps explain why a professional athlete, who was in phenomenal shape for years, can die young from heart disease. The study suggests you only get protection from RECENT physical activity.
This may be disheartening for many since so many people look at “exercise programs” and “diet,” as temporary things… doing them just long enough to get in the desired shape or lose a certain amount of weight.
This approach will NOT make you healthy. What will help make you healthy and possibly live longer is making the commitment to change your lifestyle. Committing to eating right and exercising FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
That is exactly what Chiropractors believe and have been teaching for years - - health is the result of what you routinely do now and for the rest of your life.
That’s why it is also important to commit to getting and keeping your spine working properly with Chiropractic care. If you stop exercising, you lose the positive effects. If you stop brushing your teeth, you lose the positive effect. And, if you neglect your spine, chances are, you will eventually end up in rough shape again. Staying healthy and living longer is in YOUR hands. Visit www.BackCareCentral.com for more info.
Archive for October, 2009
Is The Secret To Living Longer And Feeling Better Really As Easy As This?
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009British Researchers Report – Flu drugs may NOT be worth it for healthy adults.
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 Swine Flu Mania! I’m sure you’ve heard there is something called the swine flu going around. The scientific name is now H1N1. And H1N1 is not the only thing “going around.” A lot of hysteria is traveling with it.
When they first reported on this flu several months ago, some news programs hyped it up to the point you thought the human race was going to be wiped off the face of the Earth!
Well, as it turns out, that’s not even close to the reality. H1N1, so far, hasn’t been the death sentence the media prophesized. Most people with H1N1 get flu-like symptoms and are perfectly fine in no time.
Why is that?
It’s because most people who contract H1N1 have normal and healthy immune systems. And when you have a normal and healthy immune system, you can fight off just about anything known to man or woman.
Just like the “regular” flu, people with compromised immune systems are the ones at risk and that is why it is important to keep your immune system functioning at its highest genetic potential. This includes: eating right, exercising, reducing stress and visiting your doctor for routine check-ups. This includes Chiropractic care to keep your spine working properly and alleviating any unnecessary stress and strain on your system.
Here’s something you should know about taking anti-viral medications like Tamiflu and Relenza: On Saturday, August 22, 2009, Reuters reported that a new study published in the Lancet Infectious Disease suggests treating H1N1 in normal healthy adults may not be worthwhile. “Recommending the use of anti-viral drugs for the treatment of people presenting with symptoms is unlikely to be the most appropriate course of action,” wrote Jane Burch of the University of York and colleagues.
According to the Reuters’ article, the results of this study also support an already existent advisory from the World Health Organization (WHO): “healthy patients who get H1N1 swine flu without suffering complications do not need to be treated with anti-virals.”
The WHO, however, strongly recommends both drugs for pregnant woman and children under 5 because these two groups are at risk for greater illness.
Do Tamiflu and Relenza Work?
The research team in the above study reviewed several published studies. With healthy people, flu symptoms usually last one week untreated. Treated with either Tamiflu or Relenza, symptoms were cut by HALF A DAY. People with a higher risk, like diabetics or asthmatics saved a day with Tamiflu, and three-quarters of a day with Relenza.
Due to fear, people have been hording these two drugs for months. This research suggests it is not a good idea to take these drugs if you are healthy. In fact, researchers concluded that the drugs should be saved for those who need them most.
There are many ways to stay healthy. Proper diet, exercise, rest and more work wonders for your body. And boosting your immunity with proper supplements and chiropractic care may be just the thing you need to keep you feeling great during the flu season. To find more great ways to stay healthy, visit www.BackCareCentral.com.
Prescription Medication And Grapefruit - A Potentially Deadly Combination
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009Here’s why: In this story, a retiree spends his summers up north and winters in the south. What natives call a “snowbird.” Two months after arriving in sunny Florida, this retiree was dead. The cause? Doctors believe it was a deadly interaction between the 2-3 glasses of fresh grapefruit juice he drank everyday and his medication. Drinking grapefruit juice can be deadly for people who take certain medications, according to a recent paper. In this particular case, the fatal interaction is believed to be between the grapefruit and Lipitor.
The victim had high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease. For this, doctors put him on Lipitor and he began a diet and exercise program. Two weeks after going to Florida for the winter, he went to the emergency room complaining of muscle pains, fatigue and fever. That’s where he went into kidney failure and died.
Although experts know the problem exists, most laymen and health care professionals are still in the dark about the deadly risks, even though the FDA requires all prospective new drugs to be tested for interactions with grapefruit juice, and a warning about grapefruit juice is included in the “food-drug interactions” that come with dozens of medications.
Since grapefruit juice is metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver that breaks down many drugs… it is one of the foods most likely to cause problems with drugs. When the system is overloaded, scientists said the grapefruit juice can “swamp” the system, keeping the liver from doing its complete job and blocking it from breaking down drugs and other substances.
The most severe effects, scientists say, are likely with some statins. While the liver devotes its resources to grapefruit juice, the medication can build up to dangerous levels, causing a breakdown of the body’s muscles and even kidney failure.
So, the first tip of the month is: If you are taking ANY prescription medication (especially statin drugs), ask your doctor about the possible interactions with grapefruit juice. You should also read the warnings that come with your medication. I know there may be a lot of fine print, but it could be life or death.
Which leads us to the second tip of the month: Why do you think there is so much fine print in the first place? Because all drugs have toxic side effects. That is not to say they don’t save lives and are not needed in certain situations. Clearly they do and are. But, the goal of REAL health should be to have your body function properly without drugs… or… at least… with as little drugs as humanly possible.
How? Through proper diet, exercise, stress management and Chiropractic care.
I recently read a quote from a famous NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson. He said something like this: There are more things that can go bad with a passing play, than a running play. That’s why, when in doubt, if at all possible, run the ball.
I have the same philosophy with health. If at all possible, do it naturally.
Ask Dr. Mike
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009• Q: What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
• A: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs when a nerve that goes into your hand is compressed at the wrist. Think of CTS being a “pinched nerve” in the wrist caused by swelling, a thickening of the tendons responsible for moving your fingers, or from trauma to your wrist. CTS typically begins as tingling in the hand and can progress to muscle weakness, and finally atrophy of the muscles in the effected hand. Commonly, pinching of the nerve may occur at the neck giving you similar symptoms.
• Q: Do I use heat or ice after an injury?
• A: After an injury like a twisted ankle, the inflammatory stage begins and lasts for 24-72 hours. During this time, ice is preferred. Typically, ice is applied for 10 to 20 minutes. This cycle is repeated as often as necessary. If you don’t have an ice pack, a bag of frozen peas or corn will do. P.R.I.C.E., a common acronym used after an injury, suggests patients Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate their injury.
• Heat is generally applied after the inflammatory phase is over. Moist heat is preferred over dry heat, because dry heat may dehydrate your muscles making them less flexible and predisposing them to further injury. Moist heat applications last 20-30 minutes.
Did You Know?…
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009Tidbits of news and info to make your life easier and more fun, so you’re healthy all the time
1. Today, there are more than 2 700 different languages spoken in the world, with more than 7 000 dialects. In Indonesia alone, 365 different languages are spoken. More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in Africa. The most difficult language to learn is Basque, which is spoken in north-western Spain and south-western France. It is not related to any other language in the world. Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world, followed by English. But as home language, Spanish is the second most spoken in the world.
2. If a soup or stew is too salty, add raw cut potatoes. Discard them after they have cooked - they will have absorbed the salt. If a soup or stew is too sweet, add salt. If a main dish or vegetable is too sweet, add a teaspoon of cider vinegar. Here are some more food tips…
• To avoid ‘onion eyes’ peel under cold water or refrigerate (or freeze) before chopping.
• To perk up soggy lettuce, add lemon juice to a bowl of cold water and soak lettuce for an hour in the refrigerator.
• When cooking carrots, peas, beets or corn, add a small amount of sugar to the water to keep the flavor.
• To keep sweet corn yellow, add one teaspoon of lemon juice to the cooking water just about a minute before taking off the stove.
• Never salt the water you cook corn in. It will only toughen the corn. Store celery and lettuce in paper bags, not plastic. And leave the outside leaves and stalks alone until ready to use.
• Sunlight doesn’t ripen tomatoes, warmth does. Store tomatoes with stems pointed down and they will stay fresher, longer.
• To soften rock-hard brown sugar, simply add a slice of soft bread to the package and close the bag tightly. In a few hours the sugar will be soft again.
Why Does My Back Ache?
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 100 million
work days per year are lost due to low back pain!
Carrying the kids on your shoulders, cleaning the floors, lifting groceries out of the car, or a little extra up front (that’s the pendulous abdominal syndrome). Lifting, bending, and twisting, or worse yet, sitting all day at work. Add to this a slip and fall or a previous car accident and it’s not difficult to understand why studies show that approximately 80% of Americans will suffer from lower back pain at some time in their life. Many times back pain begins after just
bending over to pick up a pencil. Now, it’s not the pencil causing your back
pain, but rather your lower back’s structure (meaning muscles, joints, discs,
and vertebrae) has lost it’s normal functioning, and therefore could not
provide the necessary support of your spine. Our office specializes in finding
the cause of your back pain. Combining spinal adjustments with proper
exercises and stretches, a well balanced diet, and state of the art spinal
ABS therapy are the keys to reducing or eliminating your lower back pain.
If you know someone that is suffering from low back pain, do him or her a favor
and let them know that relief is just around the corner. You and your loved
shouldn’t have to live in pain. Visit www.titantherapy.com for more info.
