Health News

Mental Attitude: Run away from depression? A study from Duke University Medical Center reports regular exercise can help patients suffering from depression. Patients performed group based exercise therapy 3 times a week, home based exercise, took a typical antidepressant or took a placebo pill. The researchers concluded group based exercise worked every bit as well as typical antidepressant drugs. Using a home based exercise program did not yield as much benefit as exercise in a group setting, but still better than taking a placebo. Psychosomatic Medicine, Sept. 2007

Health Alert: Prescription Drug Poisonings! The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports unintentional deaths due to drug poisoning (mostly prescribed medications) increased by 68% between 1994 and 2004. This is now only second to motor vehicle accidents as the major cause of accidental deaths. The rate in 2004 was 7.1 deaths per 100,000. Psychotherapeutic drugs were the largest contributor to the problem in the study. Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report, Feb 2007

Diet: Stay Away from Artificial Colors! Most artificial colors are derived from coal tar, which is known to cause cancer. Generally artificial colors are designated either FD&C, D&C or as a color with a number after it, such as FD&C Red No. 40, D&C Green No. 5 or Yellow No. 6. FDA 2007

Exercise: Painful Playtime! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued warnings in 1977, 1981 and 1999, emphasizing the dangers of trampolines and recommended they not be used. Despite these warnings, visits to emergency rooms skyrocketed between 1990 and 2005. The number in injuries has increased exponentially each year, leading the AAP to characterize trampoline injuries among children as “epidemic” and to recommend banning them from home use entirely.

Chiropractic: How Important is Posture? Chiropractic adjustments allow for proper motion of the spine making it easier to maintain posture “90% of our brain’s energy is used for posture alone.” –Dr Robert Sperry (Nobel Prize 1981)

Wellness/Prevention: Tackle Your News Year’s Resolutions all at Once. People who tried to cut back on sodium and quit smoking at the same time were twice as likely to succeed as those who tried each goal separately, 6 months apart. For example, in the group of people who tried both goals at once, 30% lowered salt consumption, compared with 17% of the group that tackled one at a time. “There’s synergy when you make several changes together,” explains lead author David J. Hyman, MD. “Why keep puffing cigarettes once you’ve revamped your diet?” 44% of Americans resolve to fix at least one unhealthy habit in 2007. Baylor College of Medicine

Quote: “Mystery creates wonder and wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.” – Neil Armstrong