Your Intellect Might Be Reflected in Your Body Symmetry

This article was published today in HealthDay News and written by Alan Mozes. I think the study demonstrates the power of body symmetry and the way it can affect your overall health. A symmetrical spine and posture may come into play here, don't you think?

FRIDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Smarter people are apparently a bit more symmetrical in terms of the shape of their body than less-intelligent individuals, a review of prior research suggests.

Body symmetry, the study team noted, is measured by looking at those parts of the body that come in pairs, right and left -- such as fingers, toes, hands and feet -- and then measuring and comparing the width and length of each side.

The findings, released online in May in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the journal Intelligence, were based on an analysis conducted by a team of researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

"So far, cognitive ability has been demonstrated to be the best predictor of job performance," co-author George Banks, a doctoral student in VCU's School of Business, said in a university news release. "This article provides evidence for one potential cause of differences in individual intelligence."

To arrive at their conclusion, Banks and colleagues examined 14 previous studies that in total explored the possible body-brain connection among nearly 1,900 people.

The authors noted that past efforts have pointed towards intelligence as being a key indicator of future health, mortality and perhaps even overall fitness, a critical ingredient in boosting the chances for reproductive success and overall survivability.

It was this evidence of a connection between fitness and brains that sparked the notion among the VCU team that body symmetry might correlate with intelligence.

The Wellness Festival

We are excited to announce that we will be kicking off our annual Wellness Festival in July! Our vision as a practice is to be the community resource to optimal health and wellness, and we plan on following through with a celebration for health in American Fork.

Our mission is to educate and empower the public on the importance of disease prevention and how to obtain better health through natural and alternative therapies. Our community in American Fork provides many alternatives to health care, and we want the public to be aware of them and utilize them toward a greater prevention of sickness and disease.

We currently are faced with a growing epidemic of heart disease, cancer and obesity, and we want the community to be aware of ways we can reduce the rates of these devastating diseases by using a variety of methods. We understand that there are many diseases that may or may not be prevented or even cured, but our desire is to provide some hope for those who currentl suffer from sickness and those who are unsure about alternative treatments. As health professionals in the community, we have an absolute commitment to reduce the growing rate of sickness and disease in Utah Valley, and so we want to provide the community with further education using this non-profit event: The Wellness Festival.

At the festival, there will be various events going on such as health presentations from chosen professionals, group lessons, and multiple exhibitors providing their products and information. There will also be drawings for free products from exhibitors, so may sure you are their!

So come on out to the first American Fork Wellness Festival! We are excited and hope that you will come and fight for the cause of prevention and wellness!

Dr. Carter

Give The Greatest Gift for Father's Day--Health!

I just wanted to wish all of the father's out there a happy day to you, and hope that you have a fantastic weekend. One of the greatest gifts for dad's is the gift of health. Now, this isn't something you can just "give" away, of course, but may be something that whether or not you are a dad--you will dedicate and give to yourself. This is a milestone, a time to reset goals and rethink your core values.

What matters most to you? Family, kids, spouse, friends, or maybe the red mustang out in the garage. Regardless, how your health is right now is going to affect everyone around you (except the red mustang, it will always be smiling in the garage, waiting for someone to drive it). Your health is going to change your future relationships. It will affect your career, your religion, your hobbies, etc. because if it fails, then all else follows. Often times, the career goes first because you can't make it to work, then relationships and stress/strain on the family, and the downward spiral goes on. I think you catch my drift.

So, what are you going to do about your health, RIGHT NOW? Do you need to get back into shape? Do you need to stop eating all that garbage and drinking belly wash soda? Improve on mental, emotional and spiritual health? Perhaps becoming more focused on life and your overall well-being and not on the trivial stuff, such as TV and talk show radio?

I'm not smashing the trivial things of life; however, after sitting back and realizing the countless hours that we spend on the internet, Facebook, TV, and much more, we tend to drift away from spiritual, emotion, mental and physical well-being.

And that is why heart disease is so devastating to our society.

The only things getting a workout are our fingers--texting and typing.

Let's focus on the good and wholesome things of life now--change ourselves. Get up earlier and meditate and get a good 30 minute workout in. Start the day off right.

Set just ONE baby step, and DO IT!

Don't let anything get in your way! Just focus and acheive your goals. And you will find life-changing experiences head your way. Health will improve, relationships will improve, stress levels will decrease and you are on your way to golden years of activity and success.

Happy father's day to all--and remember, all you can ever do is your best. Don't be EASILY DISTRACTED from your health.

And I got your back!

Rock on,

Dr. Carter

High Blood Pressure Med Death Risk...(but don't be alarmed)

NEW YORK - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking into whether Daiichi Sankyo's blood pressure medicine Benicar increases the risk of heart-related death, although the agency said it still believes the benefits of the drug outweigh its potential risks.

The FDA said it is evaluating data from a pair of clinical trials in which diabetes patients taking the drug, known chemically as olmesartan, had a higher rate of death from heart related causes compared with patients taking a placebo.

In a safety notice posted Friday, the agency cautioned that it has not concluded that Benicar increases the risk of death, and Daiichi has expressed its confidence in the drug.

In addition to reviewing data from the two studies, the FDA said it is considering additional ways to assess the cardiovascular effects of Benicar.

In the long-term trials, patients with type 2 diabetes were given either Benicar or placebo to determine whether Benicar would slow the progression of kidney disease or progression of the diabetes.

In the larger of the two trials, Benicar did appear to slow the onset of kidney disease, Daiichi said.

But an unexpected finding in both trials was a greater number of deaths from heart attack, stroke or sudden death in the Benicar-treated patients compared with those who took a placebo, the FDA said.

"Olmesartan has been around for a long time, and the class of drugs has been around for a very long time. We've been very confident, as the FDA has been, in both the efficacy and the safety," Daiichi's chief scientific officer, Dr. Glenn Gormley, said in a telephone interview.

There are several classes of drugs that work through different mechanisms to treat high blood pressure. Benicar belongs to a class known as angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, that are also used to prevent kidney failure.

Other ARBs include Merck & Co's Cozaar and Novartis AG's Diovan.

"There was a numerical imbalance in some of the cardiovascular side effects," Gormley said. "We've never seen that before in other studies and I don't think we've seen that with other ARBs."

In the larger of the two studies, which included more than 4,400 patients divided about evenly between those taking Benicar or placebo, there were 15 heart-related deaths in the drug group versus three on placebo.

In the other 557-patient study, there were 10 heart deaths in the Benicar group compared with three on placebo.

"It's a very small number and the FDA would just like to understand it better, as we would," said Gormley, adding that the company is working with the agency to help with the analysis.

The FDA is encouraging healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of Benicar.

That is the end of the article. I would say that you better report adverse events or side effects related to the use of Benicar, as long as the side effect isn't DEATH. That doesn't make any sense to me. I get so frustrated that there are other ways to treat high blood pressure--get in shape, increase omega-3 consumption, reduce stress through a myriad of ways, and get some sleep. THis is just a start. Instead, take a drug that may kill you--and if it does you will just be a statistic--a trial run for our company.

Wow. That is all i have to say. And remember, don't be alarmed--you may die though.

Think chiropractic, and let all else follow.

Dr. Carter

You Don't Have to Suffer From Pain

Do you have a bulging or herniated disc that restricts your activity? Do you have neck, shoulder, arm, back or leg pain--however nothing shows up on an MRI or x-ray? However, your pain is real! As your Doctor of Chiropractic, we are well-trained to detect, prevent and treat a wide range of health concerns, including disc problems.

Discover how chiropractic relieves pain naturally to get you back to functioning normally--without the risks of surgery and potentially dangerous medication. We are very conservative in our approach, and should be your first step back to healing.

Until recently, it was thought that discs had no sensory nerves; therefore, could not feel pain. In the early '80's, science proved otherwise. We now know that our discs are subject to pain. Studies have also shown that the disc itself can be a source of pain even though it's not bulging or herniated. Don't wait for diagnostic test results to be convinced that something's wrong. Many painful disc tears, as well as subluxated, or locked, joints, can't be detected with standard diagnostic equipment.

You remember how good you used to feel. You know how bad some days can be with chronic or recurrent pain. So why wait until you can barely walk or get out of bed before scheduling you chiropractic exam?

Join the tens of millions of chiropractic patients who've taken back control of their total health. We treat more than just back and neck pain. Our focus is on the clinical biomechanics of posture, and actually relieve pain and restore your spine back to its normal curvature and health. When the posture is restored it takes pressure off of discs and relieves much of the pain. When these life channels are open, then your health improves in a phenomenal and natural way.

As we age, work, sit for prolonged periods of time at work, the spinal joints begin to break down. An injury--such as an accident or fall--will accelerate this process. The good news is that chiropractic can identify vulnerable areas early on and halt or slow down the process of spinal degeneration.

Once a disc is damaged or weakened, additional stress is placed on the neighboring healthy discs. They, too, will become compromised. This cascading chain of reactions can lead to premature spinal aging. For years it was thought that a disc herniation was brought on by some sort of trauma--even if the trauma is the simple act of bending or lifting an object; however, recent studies have shown that often disc herniation occurs gradually as the disc breaks down over time--simply from daily wear and tear.

Misaligned vertebrae can create unequal pressure on one side of the disc, causing it to bulge or herniate. However, regular spinal adjustments and restoring normal posture can reduce spinal pressure and maintain a more balanced weight distribution and less of a chance for injury.

A chiropractor specializing in the Clinical Biomechanics of Posture, or Chiropractic BioPhysics, provides the specialized training and experience to safely and effectively adjust your spine. By minimizing the stress on your discs we can help relieve your pain and give damaged or displaced structures the opportunity to heal, naturally.

Remember, about 20% of the population has some degree of disc hernation without noticeable symptoms; so think chiropractic before there is any pain.

In our office, we do not accept every patient that comes in. We have very specific requirements and tests that our patients have to go through before qualifying for care. If you are experiencing any spinal conditions, call now for a free consultation and screening to see if you may be a candidate for care.

You only get one chance with your back...there are no spinal dentures!

Dr. Carter