May 2, 2006 [Volume 7, Issue 10]
To Your Health is brought to you by:
In this issue of To Your Health:
- Friends, Family and Chiropractic: The Ideal Health Care Team
- Expectant Moms, Remember to Drink Milk
- Relieving Back Pain: Heat Is Neat
Friends, Family and Chiropractic: The Ideal Health Care Team
People often underestimate the value of having a strong network of friends, family members and associates. In general, previous studies have shown that people who have large, healthy social networks live longer, are less likely to contract certain diseases, and are more likely to survive a serious condition such as cancer or a heart attack. A new study published in The Lancet Neurology shows that having a strong social network may also pay off by protecting against the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
In the study, researchers conducted brain autopsies of 89 people without known dementia who had been participating in an annual memory and aging project in Illinois. Each year, the participants underwent a series of clinical exams and cognitive performance tests. In addition, the researchers asked about the number of children, close friends and relatives they had, and how many of those people the participant saw at least once per month. The people in this group constituted the participants' social network.
The researchers determined that a large social network helped to protect against the effects of the fibrous "tangles" and amyloid plaque formations associated with Alzheimer's disease. For people with small amounts of plaque and tangles, the size of a person's social network had little effect on their cognitive abilities. However, as the number of tangles and plaques increased, cognitive function and memory skills remained higher for people who had larger social networks.
The importance of having a good group of family and friends to support you cannot be overlooked - much as the importance of having a health care provider who is concerned about your overall health and well-being cannot be overestimated. To enjoy the patient-focused benefits of chiropractic care, make an appointment with your local doctor of chiropractic today.
Bennett DA, Schneider JA, Tang Y, et al. The effect of social networks on the relation between Alzheimer's disease pathology and level of cognitive function in old people: a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet Neurology, May 2006;5(5)406-412.
Expectant Moms, Remember to Drink Milk
Milk is an important source of many nutrients, including vitamin D, calcium and protein. Curiously, many women do not drink enough milk during their pregnancy, even though some studies have shown that milk intake may help reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Scientists in Canada have found yet another reason for women to drink milk while pregnant - it significantly increases the birth weight of their child.
To determine the effect of milk intake on birth weight, 279 pregnant women ages 19 to 45 were interviewed during their pregnancies and asked to provide information on food consumption, including milk consumption. These findings were then compared with weight, length and head circumference measurements of the women's children at birth.
Analysis of the records found that women who consumed 250 milligrams or less of milk per day while pregnant gave birth to infants who weighed, on average, 120 grams (about 4.25 ounces) less than women who consumed higher amounts of milk. Both milk consumption and vitamin D intake appeared to have an effect on a child's weight at birth. Each additional cup of milk per day was associated with a 41-gram increase in birth weight, while each additional microgram of vitamin D was linked to an extra 11 grams in birth weight.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends three 8-ounce glasses of milk per day for most population groups as part of a healthy diet. Consuming the recommended three servings provides 90 percent of the recommended daily intake for calcium, and 75 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D. Other options include dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, fortified cereals, and supplements containing vitamin D and calcium. For more information on ways to increase calcium and vitamin D intake during pregnancy, talk to your doctor of chiropractic and visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/women/pregnancy/index.html.
Mannion CA, Gray-Donald K, Koski KG. Association of low intake of milk and vitamin D during pregnancy with decreased birth weight. Canadian Medical Association Journal, April 25, 2006;174(9):1273-1277.
Relieving Back Pain: Heat Is Neat
The application of heat and cold are used by health care providers and patients alike as a means of treating various conditions, including inflammation and back pain. Hot and cold treatments can range from the simple (such as ice packs and hot towels) to the relatively complex (such as infrared heat lamps and ice massage).
In a recent study, researchers conducted a review of nine previously published studies that examined the effectiveness of heat or cold treatments for low back pain. A total of 1,117 patients participated in the trials, with various forms of heat and cold therapies used for different lengths of time.
Analysis of the trials showed that application of heat was effective in treating back pain. In two trials of people with acute and subacute low back pain, heat wrap therapy significantly reduced pain after five days compared to a placebo. In another trial, people with acute low back pain treated with a heated blanket reported a significant reduction in pain immediately after the blanket was applied.
Doctors of chiropractic are experts in the relief of low back pain. They rely on a variety of therapeutic approaches - the most successful and well-established of which is the chiropractic adjustment. If you suffer from back pain, contact your DC and make an appointment today. For more information on back pain and how chiropractic can help, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/backpain.html.
French SD, Cameron M, Walker BF, et al. Superficial heat or cold for low back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004750.pub2.
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