Health Update

WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Courtesy of: Bob Moulas, D.C., 714-974-2505

Mental Attitude: The “Nocebo” Effect. A positive reaction to an allergy test may not necessarily mean you are allergic to the allergen. Researchers performed a double-blind, placebo controlled allergy test on children. About one of every six children showed a positive reaction to the procedure, confirmed by rashes, hives and diarrhea. The term for this outcome is the “nocebo” effect. While the placebo effect, which can improve a patient’s condition when he expects good results, the “nocebo” effect can cause physical manifestations relating to the patient’s negative expectations. ~ Allergy, Aug 2007

Heart Alert: Nightshift Risks. The World Health Organization is adding a new item to its list of “probable” cancer risk factors: working the night shift. The theory is that since melanin, which can suppress tumor development, is mostly produced during periods of darkness. Artificial light (or lack of a dark room in which to sleep) disrupts production, the individual is predisposed to tumor growth. Other explanations involve a simple circadian rhythm disruption, or perhaps the stress induced in people who work nights as part of a rotating schedule. ~ Associated Press, Nov 2007

Exercise: No Time? Current recommendations call for 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. There are 1,440 minutes in a day and 30 minutes is only 2% of your day! ~ American Heart Association

Chiropractic: Chiropractic neck pain and balance. 5-10% of people develop debilitating symptoms from neck pain. Unfortunately, even among those folks who do not have disabling pain, the majority find their neck pain is stubborn and recurrent, to some degree. Canadian scientists have shown that arthritis in the neck may affect balance. This could mean, in cases of poor balance or repeated falls among the elderly, treatment of the cervical spine might have value. ~ Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, March/April 2008

Wellness/Prevention: Slimming Sleep! A recent study draws a strong correlation between lack of sleep in children and their risk of becoming obese as they grow older. Each additional hour a 3rd-grader sleeps at night reduces the risk by 40% of becoming obese in the 6th grade. Irregular bedtimes, caffeine intake and in-room TVs are all thought to contribute to the obesity epidemic. Sleep deprivation appears to upset the balance between two hormones that regulate the appetite: ghrelin (promotes hunger) and leptin (contributes to the feeling of fullness). The average 3rd grader sleeps 9 hours a night. Those least likely to become obese routinely slept 10-12 hours nightly. ~ Pediatrics, Nov 2007

Quote: “He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.” ~ Arabic Proverb