DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Monday, April 21, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”~ Mark Twain

Mental Attitude: Angry Outbursts Increase Heart Attack Risk! Researchers at Harvard University report that heart attack risk increases nearly five times and stroke risk increases nearly three times in the two hours following at outburst of anger. Author Dr. Elizabeth Mostofsky adds, "Although the risk of experiencing an acute cardiovascular event with any single outburst of anger is relatively low, the risk can accumulate for people with frequent episodes of anger. This is particularly important for people who have higher risk due to other underlying risk factors or those who have already had a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes." European Heart Journal, March 2014

Health Alert: Diarrheal Infection in Children Linked to Antibiotics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of severe and potentially fatal pediatric diarrhea cases caused by Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile) are linked to recent antibiotic treatments. Based on surveys of parents, 73% of children who suffered from a C. difficile infection were recently prescribed antibiotics to treat ear, sinus, or upper respiratory infections. Past studies have shown that at least half of upper respiratory infections do not require antibiotic treatment. The overuse of antibiotics places children at risk, as the antibiotics kill both bad and natural flora in the digestive system and create an imbalance that may allow a C. difficile infection to grow out of control and release toxins that inflame the gut. Dr. Tom Frieden, the Director of the CDC, writes, "When antibiotics are prescribed incorrectly, our children are needlessly put at risk for health problems including C. difficile infection and dangerous antibiotic resistant infections." Pediatrics, March 2014

Diet: Eating Too Much Protein in Middle-Age Could be Harmful. A new study suggests that a high protein diet (>1.2g protein per kg of body weight consumed per day) increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, and death among middle-aged adults. Lead author Dr. Valter Longo writes, "We studied simple organisms, mice, and humans, and provide convincing evidence that a high-protein diet - particularly if the proteins are derived from animals - is nearly as bad as smoking for your health."Cell Metabolism, March 2014

Exercise: Exercising During Pregnancy Reduces Weight Gain & Associated Illnesses. Research involving 963 pregnant women shows that moderately intense supervised exercise starting at the prenatal consultation helps women avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy while also reducing associated illnesses such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. The researchers state, "We wish to emphasize the importance of maintaining the health of pregnant women, as well as their children, by reaching an optimum weight; hence the importance of [physical exercise]." Mayo Clinic Proceeding, December 2013

Chiropractic: More Cost-Effective. Considering effectiveness and cost together, chiropractic care for low back and neck pain is highly cost-effective and represents a good value in comparison to other treatments, including medical care.  Mercer Health and Benefits, October 2009

Wellness/Prevention: Enjoy a Nap. Taking an afternoon nap has been associated with benefits including improved alertness and performance, fewer accidents and mistakes, and a psychological boost to help one feel both relaxed and rejuvenated.    National Sleep Foundation, 2013

For More Information on Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Whiplash, and To Sign Up For Our Daily Health Update Emails, Go To:www.DrJeffAllynBlog.com or our website at:www.berkleychiropracticclinic.com 

(This information is brought to you in conjunction withwww.Chiro-Trust.org, it 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.)