Clinic Wellness Team. A key factor to spine or back pain conditions is staying healthy. Overall wellness involves a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, physical activity, restful sleep, and a healthy lifestyle. The term has been applied in many ways. But overall, the definition is as follows.
It is a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is multidimensional, bringing together lifestyles both mental/spiritual and the environment in which one lives. It is positive and affirms that what we do is, in fact, correct.
It is an active process where people become aware and make choices towards a more successful lifestyle. This includes how a person contributes to their environment/community. They aim to build healthier living spaces and social networks. It helps in creating a person’s belief systems, values, and a positive world perspective.
Along with this comes the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, personal self-care, and knowing when to seek medical attention. Dr. Jimenez’s message is to work towards being fit, being healthy, and staying aware of our collection of articles, blogs, and videos.
Women who are at least 35 years old when they give birth are much more likely than younger mothers to experience a variety of major pregnancy complications, a recent study confirms.
While previous research has linked what’s known as advanced maternal age to problems like high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy and a higher risk of death and severe complications for babies, the current study offers fresh insight into the severe health issues faced by older mothers, said lead study author Dr. Sarka Lisonkova.
“This is important for counseling women who contemplate delaying childbirth to their forties,” Lisonkova, of the University of British Columbia Children’s and Women’s Health Center in Vancouver, said by email. “While a delay of childbirth by a few years does not make a large difference in the early thirties, a few years delay in the late forties increases the risks significantly.
For the study, researchers examined data on all singleton births to 828,269 women in Washington State from 2003 to 2013.
After adjusting for other factors that can influence pregnancy outcomes like whether it’s a first-time pregnancy or if women are obese or used assistive reproductive technology, researchers compared age-specific rates of maternal death and severe complications like obstetric shock or amniotic fluid entering the mother’s bloodstream.
Compared with mothers aged 25 to 29, women aged 35 to 39 were 20 percent more likely to have severe complications, and the odds were more than quintupled for women 50 and older, researchers report in PLoS Medicine.
Women 35 and older were also eight times more likely to have amniotic fluid enter their bloodstream, a complication that can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction, the study found.
Mothers 40 and older were almost 16 times more likely to have kidney failure and almost three times more likely to have obstetric shock, when organs don’t get enough blood and oxygen, the study found. These women were also almost five times more likely to either have complications from interventions done to help deliver the baby or be admitted to intensive care units.
The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove how maternal age directly influences the odds of complications. Researchers also didn’t have enough cases to determine how age directly influences maternal deaths.
Even so, the findings add to evidence linking advanced maternal age to a higher risk of problems for mothers and babies, said Dr. Nanette Santoro, a researcher at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora who wasn’t involved in the study.
While many of these problems can be managed surgically, the study highlights some rare complications that are harder to treat and can be fatal like renal failure and amniotic fluid entering the bloodstream, Santoro said by email.
“Based on this study and others, the ideal age to get pregnant is between 25 and 29 years,” Santoro said. “Since we’ve just entered the first era in human history where the U.S. birth rate is higher for women aged 30 to 35 than for women aged 25 to 29, we will be seeing more aged-related risks to women who conceive at later ages.”
Irritating problems such as hot flashes and night sweats cause distress in many women at menopause, and a new study published in the journal Menopause found that hot flashes are associated with a higher body mass index (BMI)
The study of 749 Brazilian women aged 45 to 60 years showed that obese women suffered more severe hot flashes than women of normal weight. The hot flashes caused them to stop certain activities and also decreased their work efficiency.
The data support the “thermoregulatory theory,” which proposes that BMI is positively associated with vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, because body-fat tissue acts as a strong heat insulator. The insulation makes the distribution of heat more difficult, which then causes obese women to suffer more hot flashes.
The study also confirmed associations between an increased BMI and other symptoms, such as joint and muscular pain and more intense urinary problems.
“This study supports earlier studies that found that women who are heavier tend to have more hot flashes, particularly close to menopause,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, executive director of The North American Menopause Society.
“In some studies, but not all, weight loss and exercise have both been shown to reduce hot flashes in women who are obese, thus giving women even more reason to create a healthier lifestyle for themselves,” Pinkerton said.
A recent study also published in Menopause found that women who have frequent hot flashes may be at an increased risk of heart disease, especially those in younger midlife (40 to 53 years). The study found that hot flashes may signal poor vascular function that can lead to heart disease. “Hot flashes are not just a nuisance, says Pinkerton. “They have been linked to cardiovascular, bone, and brain health.”
A new UK study has found that obesity in childhood has long-term health implications that could last well into adulthood.
Carried out by a team from the University of Surrey, the researchers collected data from 18 studies which included over 300,000 children in total with an average age of 10.
The team looked at the measurements of the children’s body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and skin fold thickness, and compared them to results from the same participants 25 years later as adults.
They found that participants who were obese as children were predisposed to ‘pre-diabetes’ — a condition in which the body cannot adequately metabolize glucose and which can lead to diabetes — and thickening of arteries in adulthood.
An increase in the thickening of these arteries also increases an individual’s risk of experiencing a cardiovascular condition such as heart disease in later life.
The children’s BMI was also found to be a good predictor of high blood pressure in adulthood, and could also help predict other illnesses later in life that are associated with obesity.
However, due to the limited data available the team were unable to determine if waist circumference and skin fold thickness were also indicators of future health conditions.
Commenting on the findings lead author Dr Martin Whyte said, “It is worrying that obesity is becoming endemic in our society.”
“The adverse effects of adult obesity are well known but what we have found is that obesity in childhood can cause lasting arterial damage which could potentially lead to life threatening illness. This is something that we need to address to protect adult health and reduce pressure on the NHS.”
Childhood obesity is on the increase in the UK, with figures from the NHS National Child Measurement Programme indicating that 19.8 percent of 10-11 year olds were classed as obese in 2015/16, a rise of 0.7 percent on the previous year.
The findings can be found online published in the journal Obesity Reviews.
Still taking sleeping pills to get a good night’s rest? New research suggests there’s a better way: Hit the gym.
Rush University clinical psychologist Kelly Glazer Baron tells CNN a growing body of evidence over the past decade has confirmed that regular exercise helps people sleep better than medication.
“In one study we did, for example, older women suffering from insomnia said their sleep improved from poor to good when they exercised. They had more energy and were less depressed,” he said.
Most sleep studies have confirmed sleep quality is enhanced in people who get the recommended amount of exercise — 2½ hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, along with strength or resistance training.
Brisk walking, light biking, and using a treadmill or elliptical machine all increase heart rate and cardiovascular fitness, which aids sleep quality.
Experts also recommend not exercising within six hours of bedtime, which can hinder sleep.
Losing weight comes down to simple arithmetic: Eat fewer calories than you burn off.
Here’s a good way you can accomplish this without going hungry.
Switch out high-calorie foods for low-calorie options to cut calories without cutting portion sizes. Dairy food is a good place to start, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If you’re still using whole milk and cream, make gradual changes to lower-fat versions. Start by switching from whole milk to 2 percent milk for your coffee, on your cereal and in recipes. Then take the next step down to 1 percent milk and, eventually, to fat-free or skim milk. You can make similar switches with other dairy products, like yogurt and cottage cheese.
Mix in your own fresh fruit or a few drops of vanilla extract to a serving of no-fat plain Greek yogurt to make you forget about higher-calorie choices. You’ll get twice the protein of regular yogurts without the added sugar (and calories) of flavored varieties.
Are you craving cheese? Choose types that are naturally lower in fat, like feta, string, goat and ricotta cheese. Also try reduced-fat versions of your favorites, like cheddar.
Milk is a great source of protein and other nutrients — like calcium — needed for bone health. And it’s usually fortified with vitamin D, essential to maximizing that calcium.
The bottom line? Keep the dairy, but ditch the fat.
It is very well known that spices and herbs have a great many positive healthy qualities. But often we get confused as to how many, how much and which of the ingredients we must use as a supplement to boost our body.
We have zeroed in on three basic but power house spices from your kitchen that can help you stay healthy. It goes without saying that in today�s times of excessive pesticide use, using organic varieties of these spices is the best and only way to go.
Ginger
Ginger root, which is a staple in every Indian Kitchen can work many wonders.
Ginger has been known for over two thousand years as a medicinal herb effective in treating digestive problems, nausea, hangover and gases. Modern studies have found that it is effective in the treatment of vomiting, protects the gastric mucosa and improves inflammatory conditions.
Turmeric
Turmeric has anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is the magical substance, which gives turmeric its golden color and its many health benefits. Pure extracts of Curcumin are also available in the market these days.
Many studies have revealed that turmeric has low absorption and rapid metabolism. This helps in cleansing your system of toxins and also to help in absorption of nutrients. it is a front runner for fighting infections.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of the most versatile spices of all. With its sweet and spicy notes, it is a favourite that can be easily used for a wide variety of preparations. This spice is also very high on antioxidants and can help with heart health, fights diabetes and protects brain function.
It is great as a mouth freshener.
A simple drink can be made using a teaspoon full of each of these ingredients mixed with a cup of hot water. Adding a drop of honey and a squeeze of lime makes it even better. You can use ether the powdered version of the spices or them fresh and grate them as per your requirements.
Other than consuming it as a drink, you can incorporate a pinch of each spice in almost everything you cook. Get creative and think about using more of these ingredients in your salads and even smoothies.
Once a day, right at the start of the day, having a cup of this booster will make your body thankful to you.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Lower Back Pain After Auto Injury
After being involved in an automobile accident, neck injuries and aggravated conditions, such as whiplash, are some of the most commonly reported types of injuries, due to the force of the impact. A study discovered, however, that the seat of a vehicle can often lead to injuries as well, causing lower back pain and other symptoms. Lower back pain is also among one of the most common types of automobile accident injuries in the U.S. alone.
When the weather starts getting warmer, most of us immediately ramp up our ab and glute exercises. But what about your arms? Here, Health’s contributing fitness editor Tracy Anderson demonstrates a challenging arm workout you can do anywhere—no equipment necessary.
Tracy notes that the key to strong arms is all about working different parts, not just isolated areas. These bodyweight exercises offer incredibly challenging resistance to get your shoulders, biceps, and triceps in shape for summer. Watch this video to see six of Tracy’s favorite arm-sculpting moves.
No time to watch? Here’s a breakdown of the workout:
Move 1: Start by lying on the ground. Push up into a plank position, then twist your body, creating an award pushup position. Press back up into a full plank and extend your top leg. Lower your body down and extend your leg up again. Do this 30 times. You’re going to start to feel your back arm really working, because you’re twisting your body weight to the back arm, while the front one is just stabilizing. Be sure to do both sides.
Move 2: Get into a full plank position, then straighten one leg to the back. Lift one leg and dangle your knee. Tuck it in towards your chest, then cross it over your other leg, and extend your leg into the air behind you.
Move 3: Get into a plank position. Alternate bringing your knees underneath your body, crossing diagonally, and tapping your knee with the opposite hand. Use your arms to stabilize yourself during this move.
Move 4: Get into a tabletop position. Reach one arm into the sky while pushing your hips up. Twist your body down into a high plank, then press your outside leg up into the air.
Move 5: Get into a plank position. Bend your knee and rest your outer leg on the ground in a twisted position. From here, lift your knee up and extend it out behind you. Keep twisting, lowering, and lifting for 30 reps.
Move 6: Get into a wide leg plank. Lower down to one forearm, then switch to the other. Next, energetically push your body back up using just one arm.
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