Here is today’s 1-Page Health News:
Health Alert: Marriage Benefits the Heart. An analysis of data concerning over 3.5 million adults found that marriage is associated with a reduced risk for vascular disease, coronary artery disease, aneurisms, and other heart-related conditions. New York University December 2019
Diet: Eat Five Servings of Fruits and Veggies a Day! A review of data from 61 published studies concluded that consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is associated with higher optimism and self-efficacy, as well as reduced psychological distress, ambiguity, and depressive symptoms. Nutrients, January 2020
Exercise: Is Steady State Training for You? Steady-state training (SST) involves maintaining your heart rate below your target maximum for an extended period of time and is great for strengthening the heart because it maintains a steady state of aerobic output which forces the body to become efficient at pumping oxygenated blood through the body. Constant steady-state training also helps the body burn fat for fuel, and compared with high-intensity training, there is a lower risk for acute injury. The downside to SST is that there is a higher risk for stress or repetitive injury because you are doing the same thing for an extended period of time and it takes longer to see results. American Council on Exercise, January 2020
Chiropractic: Pelvic Alignment and Lumbar Spine Pathologies. When compared with individuals without a history of back pain, patients with lumbar degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis, and failed back surgery syndrome are more likely to exhibit abnormal spino-pelvic alignment. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to improve spinal alignment abnormalities with a treatment approach that may include a combination of manipulation, mobilization, and specific exercises. Journal of Craniovertebral Junction & Spine, November 2019
Mental Attitude: Dementia Risk Can Be Reduced in a Short Time. Using data from South Korea’s National Health Screening Program, researchers report that seniors who brought their blood sugar and blood pressure readings to normal levels over a five-year time frame reduced their risk for dementia by about 12%. Journal of Clinical Medicine, January 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Prepare Your Car for Winter Safety. Getting stranded in your car during winter storms and cold temperatures can be dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following suggestions to prepare your vehicle for cold weather: service the radiator; check fluid levels; check the tread on all tires or replace tires with ones meant for all weather or snow; keep your gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines; and use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer. The CDC adds that you should have a winter emergency kit in your vehicle that includes blankets, food and water, a compass and maps, a first-aid kit, plastic bags, and a flashlight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2019