Cereal Dieting
Researchers from Michigan State University report a bowl of cereal for breakfast may be helpful in keeping your weight under control, at least if you're a woman. This study of over 4,000 women found that subjects who most often ate cereal for breakfast were 30 percent less likely to be overweight than those who consumed other types of breakfasts or even no breakfast at all. The results applied even after allowing for exercise, total caloric intake and other factors. In men, however, no significant relationship between breakfast (or lack thereof) and weight was seen.1
Caesarian Cavities
A small study from the New York University College of Dentistry suggests babies born by Caesarian section will be more susceptible to dental cavities later in life. The researchers found these infants showed earlier colonization of a type of bacterium (Streptococcus mutans) implicated in dental decay. They suspect the relatively sterile delivery mechanism prevents normal bacteria colonization from the mother's birth canal, which would ordinarily make it difficult for S. mutans to gain a foothold.2
Apnea and Arteries
A Brazilian study from the University of Sao Paolo reports a correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. This small study of 42 patients directly correlates thickening and stiffness of arterial walls with varying degrees of apnea.3 A randomized study is underway to determine if treating the apnea will have any effect on the artery-hardening effect.4
Ibuprofen-Induced Asthma
Public health officials are becoming concerned about the possibility of ibuprofen triggering asthma attacks in susceptible children.5 A study published in Pediatrics6 finds that among 100 mild-to-moderately-asthmatic children, 4 percent showed a significant decrease in lung function after exposure to ibuprofen. This translates to about 100,000 children across the U.S. who may react unfavorably if conditions are right. In addition, the researchers suspect children with more severe forms of asthma may react more severely or with greater frequency.
Bipolar Treatment
A new therapy developed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is showing promise in the treatment of bipolar disorder. The therapy basically boils down to teaching the patients how to maintain a very regular daily routine, along with some training in how to manage stress.7 The theory behind the therapy is that the disorder is aggravated by disturbances of the biological clock; thus, patients are instructed to take meals at regular times and maintain a consistent sleep schedule, among other things.
Mistake-Prone Interns
A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association8 has found that doctors-in-training who work a heavy schedule (about 90 hours per week) are impaired enough to make 50 percent more mistakes on general patients, and 22 percent more in critical care units. Researchers also gave such doctors a driving simulation test and found they performed worse than those who worked a more normal 44-hour week, but were nearly intoxicated (.05% blood-alcohol level). Resident doctors also were found to be three times more likely to have had a recent automobile accident.9
Memory Preservation
Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin have surveyed aging populations and concluded that some of best ways to maintain mental abilities as you age include staying physically fit, avoiding high stress levels, having a rich and varied social life, and getting mental stimulation. They also note that people who begin to think of themselves as old really do seem to age faster, at least mentally.10 Fish oil in the diet also appears to be beneficial in preserving brain function, possibly due to an anti-inflammatory effect that helps to protect brain cells.11
Infant Dehydration
Researchers from Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh12 report they have found an unexpectedly high number of breast-fed infants suffering from dehydration in a recent five-year study of hospital admissions. About 2 percent of the infants admitted during the study were diagnosed with hypernatremic dehydration, a condition that results from too little milk getting into the infant from the mother. The situation apparently is not often recognized by the primary care physician before admittance. Weight loss is often most noticeable sign, but jaundice and some behavioral changes may be noticed. The problem seems to affect first-time mothers most often.
Alcohol and Arrhythmias
A rather large study published in the journal Circulation13 supports earlier works suggesting heavy alcohol use can influence the heart rhythm. This study found a 45 percent increase of atrial fibrillation among drinkers who consumed an average of 35 or more drinks each week. The work is an analysis of data from an ongoing study of more than 16,000 people that began in 1976.
Schizophrenia From Famine
Researchers looking into the effects of nutrition on schizophrenia report they have found a significant link between malnutrition and the disorder.14 Cases of schizophrenia doubled among children born in China during the famine years of 1959-61. The findings were similar to another study in the Netherlands relating to the "Dutch Hunger Winter" of 1944-45. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint any particular nutrient deficiencies that may be directly responsible.
Turmeric for Breast Cancer
Tests on mice at the University of Texas suggest that turmeric, or more specifically, a component of it called curcumin, discourages the spread of breast cancer cells. Curcumin cut the rate of metastasis in half - a dramatic amount, considering the fact that the cancer had spread in 95 percent of the control group. Follow-up research is being done on humans now. Since no pharmaceutical companies would be able to profit from a natural food additive, the research is being funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.15
Fish Oil and Defibrillators
A group of researchers who were trying to see how much fish oil (which has been shown to improve patients' resistance to a second heart attack) would complement the action of implanted defibrillators were taken by surprise by the results of their study. Instead of helping patients, fish oil seemed to cause patients to experience more arrhythmias, which often precede a heart attack. Those taking fish oil had twice as many episodes of tachycardia as those in the placebo group. The placebo in this study was olive oil, which some might consider a questionable choice.16
Brian Sutton, DC
Colorado Springs, Colorado
bsuttondc@adelphia.net
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
