Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: Do you do this one thing that can make you live longer?
Read a book and live longer?
A new study has found that reading books may extend one’s lifespan and the more often an individual reads, the better. Researchers analyzed data on over 3,000 men and women aged 50 and older. When compared with non-book readers, the researchers found that individuals who read books for up to 3.5 hours each week were 17% less likely to die over the following 12 years, while those who read more than 3.5 hours weekly were 23% less likely to suffer an early death. The researchers conclude, “These findings suggest that the benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them.” Social Science & Medicine, July 2016
The longer a women is overweight or obese, the greater her risk for several cancers.
In a recent study, researchers followed nearly 74,000 women in the U.S. and found that the longer a woman carried excess weight, the higher her risk for breast, endometrial, colon, and kidney cancers. On average, the researchers found the odds rose by 7% for every 10 years a woman had been overweight and 10% for every 10 years a woman was obese. The findings suggest that cancer risk can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight at any age. PLOS Medicine, August 2016
Exercise provides more benefits if you think it will.
According to a new research, people benefit more from exercise when they believe it will have a positive effect. A team of psychologists had 76 men and women complete questionnaires about their well-being and their mood both before and after an exercise session. The results revealed that those who already believed that physical activity would have positive effects before participating in the study enjoyed the exercise more, improved their mood more, and reduced their anxiety more than participants who were less optimistic. Psychologist Dr. Hendrik Mothes explains, “The results demonstrate that our belief in how much we will benefit from physical activity has a considerable effect on our well-being in the manner of a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Journal of Behavioral Medicine, August 2016
Sleep is important for college success.
It can be difficult for college students to get enough sleep due to late night studying and other distractions, and lack of sleep can affect both physical and mental well-being. Dr. Aneesa Das, assistant director of the sleep medicine program at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center explains, “A bad night’s sleep or chronically not getting enough sleep can affect every aspect of our lives… It can affect how we perform in school, our immunity, and our emotions. When we’re tired, we’re more prone to infections, more likely to get into arguments, and less likely to participate in activities we enjoy.” Dr. Das recommends that if college students can’t avoid an all-nighter studying for exams, they should get a good night’s sleep both before and after. Ohio State University, August 2016
Does your pain come from another part of the body?
In a recent case study, the parents of an 8-year-old with intermittent, chronic low and mid back pain brought their child to a chiropractor to see if such treatment could help. A thorough examination revealed dysfunction in the child’s cervical spine. Following a course of treatment to restore function to the neck, the child’s lower and mid back pain symptoms resolved. This case demonstrates that dysfunction at one body site may be responsible for symptoms in another, which is why chiropractors are taught to examine the whole patient, not just the area of chief complaint. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, July 2016
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
