Monday, August 29, 2011

September 2011 Blog

September Office Hours & Clinic News:
  • We will be closed Saturday-Monday Labor Day Weekend (September 3-5). If you have an emergency, please call 911.
  • Dr. Riggs will be completing Laser certification in October. He will be a CLP (certified laser practitioner) when he completes his last course. The only one in the area.
  • Dr. Riggs is also re-entering the orthopedics postgraduate program at Palmer with a targeted test date of fall 2012. He completed two years previously and has to complete the 3rd year. This will give him advanced credentials in chiropractic orthopedics (non-surgical orthopedics).
Health News:

Nutrition News:
  • Rhodiola helps combat the effects of excess cortisol (stress hormone). Excess cortisol can supress immunity; cause hypertension, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, carb craving, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes (adult onset), fatty necks, faces and bellies, decreased libido and bone loss. It is akin to taking steroids frequently.
  • Too little or too much sleeping may affect cognitive decline (outside the 6-8 hour range).
  • Olive oil intake is linked to lower stroke risk.
  • Resveratrol's anti-inflammatory and anti-aging capabilities shows potential in anti-aging.  Grapes and red wine. 
  • Obesity leads to liver disease.
Medical News:
  • Trazadone and pregabalin combined improve fibromyalgia symptoms.
  • Men are at risk for osteoporotic fractures but about 10 years later than women. Men suffering hip fractures in the 76-84 age range do not fare too well-1/3 dying within a year. Low body weight, advancing age, and smoking increase the risk. Most fractures occur after age 70.
  • Risk for hip fracture increases if hormone replacement therapy is discontinued.
  • Jogging wins out in beating belly fat over resistance training

Friday, August 5, 2011

August Office Hours and Blog

Office Hours for August
  • Closed at 4:00 PM Friday August 5th Leaving for Houston Seminar
  • Closed at 3:00 PM Wednesday August 17 Leaving for Albuquerque
  • Closed All Day Thursday August 18 in Albuquerque at VA
Nutrition and Health News:
  • Green tea polyphenols provide protective benefits against ultraviolet light.
  • Human data supports caloric restriction as an anti-aging strategy
  • Nearly 2/3rds of americans are medically overweight or obese while 30% believe they are healthy and 70% of obese believe they are just overweight.  An obvious disconnect between perception and reality.
  • A dual blend of two plant extracts might combat fat storage.  Sphaeranthus indicus flower and mangosteen fruit were found to impede the generation of fat.
  • Low levels of CoQ10 were associated with increase breast cancer risk in a Cancer Epidemiology study.  Supplementation also improves the function of the endothelium.
  • Blueberries inhibit fat formation.  In spite of them being expensive, I love blueberries.
  • Low levels of vitamin D are linked to stiffness of the arteries, while higher levels reduced risk of macular degeneration in women. Low levels may also explain the higher rate of hypertension in African Americans.  Deficience could also play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease.
  • Omega 3 FAs help protect against diseases related to obesity.
  • John Hopkins scientists in a recent study linked dysfunctional mitochondria (cell powerhouse) to peripheral neuropathy.
  • Antioxidants lower risk of metabolic syndrome and protect against radiation.
  • Coffee drinks rejoice.  The Journal of Stroke reports coffee drinkers have fewer strokes.
  • Maritime pine bark extract and bilberry extract (standardized) show promise in reducing eye pressure associated with glaucoma and also in combination with the eye drop latanoprost (prescription).

Medical News: