Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: The surprising new way to battle depression & anxiety
Yoga may help those with major depression.
Sudarshan Kriya yoga focuses on rhythmic breathing exercises that aim to place the mind into a deep, restful state. A new study finds this yoga discipline may prove to be an effective drug-free approach to treating anxiety and depression symptoms. The study found that compared with participants in a control group, those with major depressive disorder who completed an 8-week breathing-based yoga program experienced significant improvements in their anxiety and depression symptoms. Research fellow Dr. Anup Sharma adds, “With such a large portion of patients who do not fully respond to antidepressants, it’s important we find new avenues that work best for each person to beat their depression. Here, we have a promising, lower-cost therapy that could potentially serve as an effective, non-drug approach for patients battling this disease.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, November 2016
Neck pain prevalent among adolescents.
A recent cross-sectional study of high schoolers investigated the prevalence of neck pain among teens. The findings revealed nearly half (48.9%) of those surveyed had a history of past or current neck pain, which suggests that neck pain in adolescence occurs as frequently as it does during adulthood. Additionally, the researchers found an association between the risk of neck pain and home posture habits such as lying supine in bed or sitting in a slumped posture while watching TV. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, November 2016
High cholesterol during midlife increases Alzheimer’s risk.
After reviewing data from 17 published studies concerning over 23,000 patients, a team of Australian researchers concluded that individuals with high cholesterol levels during their middle years have twice the risk of developing dementia as their peers with normal cholesterol levels. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, November 2016
Bagged salads may be fertile ground for bacteria.
Prepackaged salads may promote the growth of the dangerous bacteria salmonella. According to experts, leaf lettuce can be first exposed to salmonella in the field, from sources such as insects, bird droppings, and manure. In the study, investigators found that even slight damage to leaves in salad bags released juices that encouraged the spread of salmonella. They also discovered that salad juices boosted the bacteria’s ability to form biofilms, making it hard to wash the bacteria off the produce. The findings show the need for improved contamination prevention and the importance of washing prepackaged produce. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, November 2016
You don’t have stop your exercise program when the weather turns cold.
The American Heart Association offers the following information about keeping fit in the cold: exercise can help boost your immunity during the winter; working out in cold weather may burn more calories,; and wear layers of clothing that you can peel off as you get warm. American Heart Association, November 2016
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
