Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: Happy spouse, happy life? Science says YES
Happy spouse, healthy life.
Having a happy spouse appears to be good for your health. During a 6-year study, researchers asked nearly 2,000 couples about their happiness, health, and exercise levels. They found that people with happy spouses were much more likely to report better health during the study period. According to the findings, happy spouses were more likely to provide strong social support and were more likely to get their partners involved in healthy habits such as exercising, eating healthy, and getting adequate sleep. Principal investigator Dr. William Chopik adds, “This finding significantly broadens assumptions about the relationship between happiness and health, suggesting a unique social link.” Health Psychology, September 2016
People want more rest.
An online survey of 18,000 people from 134 different countries has revealed that over two-thirds of respondents would like more rest, and that those who felt they needed more rest scored lower in terms of well-being. Participants who thought they get more rest than average or didn’t feel they needed more rest had wellbeing scores twice as high as those who wanted more rest. The top 5 restful activities chosen by participants included reading, being in the natural environment, being on their own, listening to music, and doing nothing in particular. Investigator Dr. Felicity Callard comments, “It’s intriguing that the top activities considered restful are frequently done on one’s own. Perhaps it’s not only the total hours resting or working that we need to consider, but the rhythms of our work, rest and time with and without others.” Durham University, September 2016
Are you wearing the right shoes for your sport?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a scholastic or recreational athlete, choosing the right shoe can make a significant difference in performance and reduce your risk of injury. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers the following advice to help choose the right shoe: basketball, volleyball, and tennis shoes should include a rigid, thick, supportive sole and high ankle support; soccer shoes should have a supportive, high-quality footbed, molded rubber cleats, and an appropriate stud type for the playing surface; football and lacrosse shoes need high ankle support and good traction; baseball and softball shoes need good arch support; and kids younger than 13 should not wear metal cleats. American Podiatric Medical Association, October 2016
Physical activity may preserve lung function in asthma sufferers.
A study of over 1,300 adults found that active asthmatic adults experienced less decline in their FEV1/FVC ratio and peak expiratory flow, which are common measures of lung function, than sedentary adults with asthma. The findings suggest that physical activity may be a modifiable lifestyle factor that protects the lungs of asthmatics. Respirology, October 2016
Are eggs bad for the heart?
An analysis of data from 7 published studies finds that consuming 1 egg a day has no positive or negative effect on heart disease risk; however, the data show that individuals who consume 1 egg a day have a lower risk for stroke. The authors conclude with a reminder that eggs “are a relatively low-cost and nutrient-dense whole food that provides a valuable source of protein, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, choline, vitamins, and minerals.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, October 2016
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
