Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: The key to successful aging & vitamin D and breast cancer
Heat waves can be deadly to seniors, children, and people with chronic health problems.
Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City writes, “Those who have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, as well as those who suffer with mental illness, may be at risk for heat-related emergencies, including heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting), heat exhaustion, as well as heat stroke.” Signs of heat-related illness include a high pulse rate, headache, dizziness, nausea, and shallow breathing. To beat the heat, drink plenty of water, find an air-conditioned location, or use a fan and a spray bottle filled with cool water to avoid overheating. Lenox Hill Hospital, June 2016
Consuming a diet rich in fiber may be the key to aging successfully.
In a recent study, researchers defined successful aging as reaching old age both disease-free and fully functional. They analyzed data on 1,609 adults aged 49 years and older and found that participants who had the highest intake of fiber were nearly 80% more likely to age successfully over a ten-year period than those with the lowest fiber intake. The Journal of Gerontology, June 2016
Researchers have found a possible link between vitamin D deficiency and breast cancer.
German researchers compared the vitamin D levels and mammographic findings of 1,103 women and found that women with malignant results were more likely to have deficient vitamin D levels than those with negative results. This finding suggests vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of some types of breast cancer. Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2016
A specific gene may be the key to social life.
Researchers have found that reduced expression of a gene called OXT may affect a person’s social behavior, including their ability to form normal healthy relationships. The OXT gene is involved in the production of oxytocin, a hormone that is associated with many human social behaviors. The study showed that individuals with a less active OXT gene have difficulty recognizing emotional facial expressions and are more likely to be anxious about their relationships with loved ones. The investigators also observed less gray matter in an area of the brain that is vital for face processing and social thinking in these same individuals. All tests indicate that the OXT gene plays an important role in social behavior and brain function. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 2016
Too much or too little sleep can raise the risk of developing diabetes in men, but not women.
A study of nearly 800 healthy adults in 14 European countries found that men who slept the most or the least were more likely to have an impaired ability to break down sugar and to have higher blood sugar levels. However, the opposite appears to be the case for women – those who slept the most or least were more responsive to insulin and had enhanced function of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The study is the first to reveal the opposite effect of sleep problems on diabetes risk in men and women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, June 2016
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
