Posts by Dr. Youdeem
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Resistance. Overexposure to antibiotics has long been a concern in the medical community, most specifically the development of antibiotic resistant infections as a result of repeated use. Ophthalmologic antibiotics have been found to promote antimicrobial resistance too, prompting a call from Vanderbilt Eye Institute physicians to be more judicial in the administration of certain…
Read MoreA Good Laugh
A Good Laugh. When we laugh heartily among friends, we exhale repeatedly without drawing breath. This physical effort leaves us exhausted and triggers the release of protective endorphins, one of the complex neuropeptide chemicals of the brain that regulate pain and promote feelings of wellbeing. Watching 15 minutes of comedy in the company of others…
Read MoreBad Posture
Bad Posture. Asymmetries in posture and motion can cause tethering, the adverse prolonged stretching of the central nervous system. This can result in spinal cord ischemia (lack of blood flow) and consequently motor, sensory, and autonomic neurological dysfunction. Tethering of the spinal cord has been linked to demylenating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Koch, 2002
Read MoreIt’s Harder To Run As You Age
It’s Harder To Run As You Age. Runners who find it more difficult to run as they age can make the experience easier on themselves by adding strength training and flexibility exercises to their fitness routine. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Dec 2011
Read MoreProtect Your Bones
Protect Your Bones. A calorie-restricted diet higher in protein (mostly from dairy foods) and lower in carbohydrates, coupled with daily exercise, demonstrated a major positive impact on bone health. Bone health improvements were particularly evident due to the diet’s high density of bone-supporting nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D and dairy-based protein. Journal of Clinical…
Read MoreCancer Prevention In Your 50s
Cancer Prevention In Your 50s Cancer is more likely to show up in men over 50 years old. That’s why the majority of cancer screening exams begin at age 50. Finding and treating cancer as early as possible is one of the best ways to beat this disease. In the case of prostate cancer (the…
Read MoreGraceful Age
Graceful Age & Life Expectancy. The number of people over the age of 90 in the US will reach 9 million by 2050. To put the number in perspective, there were 720,000 people age 90 years or over in 1980, and today there are nearly 2 million. 74.1% of persons over 90 are women, with…
Read MoreChewing Gum?
Chewing Gum? Students who chewed gum for 5 minutes before taking a test did better on the test than non-gum-chewing students. “Mastication-induced arousal” is credited for the boost, which lasted for just the first 20 minutes of testing. Many studies have shown that any type of physical activity before an examination can produce a performance…
Read MoreChiropractic Before Surgery?
Chiropractic Before Surgery? A lumbar discectomy is one of the most common spine surgical procedures, with an average charge of $7,841, not including lost wages and productivity. A recent study suggests that many patients will improve with nonoperative therapy (such as chiropractic manipulation) and that a trial of conservative management before surgery is appropriate. Spine…
Read MoreAnother Cup Of Tea
Another Cup Of Tea. Green tea contains catechins, polyphenolic compounds that are known to exert numerous protective effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system. Green tea catechins at doses ranging from 145 to 3,000 mg per day taken for 3 to 24 weeks led to statistically significant reductions in total and LDL (“bad”). Journal of the…
Read More