DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“Honesty is the single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual, corporation, or product.” ~ Ed McMahon

Mental Attitude: Heart Disease May Increase Dementia Risk for Older Women. Using data from an eight-year study of 6,500 elderly women with normal cognitive function at the study's onset, researchers found that the women with heart disease were 29% more likely to experience mental decline during the study period than participants who did not have heart disease. Study author Dr. Bernhard Haring writes, "Our study provides further new evidence that this relationship [between heart disease and dementia] does exist, especially among postmenopausal women."  Journal of the American Heart Association, December 2013

Health Alert: Is Narcolepsy an Autoimmune Disease? Researchers have found compelling evidence of so-called "molecular mimicry," whereby the immune system attacks a protein routinely found in the body because of its similarity to a foreign protein. They found that part of a wakefulness protein that's naturally present is very similar to part of a protein from the 2009 H1N1 virus. When the wakefulness protein is disrupted, a person may experience narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness during waking hours. This may explain why some Europeans who received the H1N1 vaccine four years ago developed narcolepsy shortly after inoculation. Furthermore, the authors of the study believe this finding confirms that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease. Science Translational Medicine, December 2013

Diet: Too Much Salt in the American Diet. According to a press release issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly nine out of ten Americans consume too much sodium in their diet. Excessive sodium intake has been linked to an increased risk for hypertension, a major risk factor for both heart attack and stroke.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2013

Exercise: Exercise Helps Maintain Strength and Physical Performance in Old Age. An analysis of 1,000 elderly participants revealed that exercise habits during middle age led to greater grip strength, faster gait, and longer one-leg standing time in their later years. International Osteoporosis Foundation, December 2013

Chiropractic: Helps Constipated Infant. This case-study involved an female infant with constipation onset after starting solid foods. It was not uncommon for the child to go 7 to 10 days without a bowel movement. Warms baths and abdominal massages were used to help, and at one point, emergency care was needed. The infant was treated by a chiropractor and after two adjustments, the child had a bowel movement without assistance. After two weeks of care, the infant experienced regular, daily bowel movements. Chiropractic Pediatrics, December 1994

Wellness/Prevention: Does Sleep Deprivation Cause Brain Damage? According to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden, just one night of sleep deprivation can increase the presence of the molecules NSE and S-100B in blood samples drawn after waking. These molecules are typically found in the brain and have been observed to increase in the blood when brain damage has occurred. This suggests that sleep deprivation may promote degenerative processes in the brain. Though their study included only fifteen individuals and more research is needed, the researchers believe getting adequate sleep is necessary for maintaining brain health. SLEEP, December 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

(This information 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.)