Mental Attitude: Risks For Quitting College.
40% of students in the US fail to get a bachelor’s degree within 6 years at the college where they began. Surprisingly, events such as a death in the family and students’ failure to get their intended major did not have a significant influence. The critical event with the most influence was depression. Other reasons include recruitment by an employer or another institution; losing financial aid or experiencing a large increase in tuition or living costs; unexpected bad grades; and roommate conflicts.
Journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Feb 2011

Health Alert: Cough It Up.
Research has linked over-the-counter cough and cold products to poisoning or death in hundreds of children, ages 2 and younger. Studies also show these medicines do little to control symptoms. In 2008, the FDA formally recommended OTC cough and cold products not be given to children under age 2. 61% of parents of children ages 2 and younger gave their children OTC cough and cold medicine within the last 12 months. More than half of parents report their child’s doctor says OTC cough and cold medications are safe for children under 2.
University of Michigan Health System, Feb 2011

Diet: Too Fat!
The rate of obesity among children and adolescents in the US has nearly tripled between the1980s and 2000s. Childhood obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, liver disease, skin infections, asthma and other respiratory problems later in life.
Pediatrics Journal, February 2011

Exercise: The “Skinny” on Exercise.
Exercise boosts blood circulation and the delivery of nutrients to your skin, helping to detoxify the body by removing toxins. As exercise boosts oxygen to the skin, it helps increase the production of collagen, the connective tissue that keeps your skin elastic.
Mayo Clinic, Feb 2011

Chiropractic: Headache Help!
A study compared 6 weeks of chiropractic adjusting for tension-type headaches to 6 weeks of medical treatment with amitriptyline, a medication often prescribed for severe tension headache pain. Chiropractic patients experienced fewer side effects (82.1%) and only chiropractic patients continued to report fewer headaches when treatment ended.
JMPT, 1995

Wellness/Prevention: Zinc!
The cold accounts for 40% of sickness absence from work and millions of school days missed each year. Zinc taken within a day of cold symptoms can reduce severity and shorten the length of illness. At 7 days after onset, a higher proportion of people who took zinc reported no cold symptoms compared to those who took a placebo.
The Cochrane Library, Feb 2011
“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” ~ Thomas Edison

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care providers and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care please give us a call at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at Chiropractor in Springfield, VA.

Mental Attitude: US children are depressed:  According to an alarming study, in 2007 8% of children in the US, ages 12-17, had a Major Depressive Episode! National Health Interview Survey, 2008

Health Alert: Children are still smoking: A shocking survey showed 50% of high school students tried smoking in 2008, and 25% of children ages 12 or older currently consider themselves smokers.  CDC, 2009

Diet: We are eating ourselves to death? 27.2% of US adults, aged 20 years and over, are obese!  Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index of 30 or more or 20% or more above your recommended weight.  National Health Interview Survey, 2009

To calculate your BMI:  take your height (in inches) and square it.  Then divide that number into your body weight (in pounds).  Then multiply by 703.

• Underweight     < 18.5
• Normal weight  18.5-24.9
• Overweight         25.0-29.9
• Obese                    30.0 – Up

Exercise: Best results for strengthening: Stretching the muscle you are strengthening is key; however, it is also important to stretch  the muscle opposite of the one you are strengthening if that muscle is tight or overly-contracted.  Example:  If strengthening the upper back muscles, first stretch the chest muscles (which are typically tight and turning off the very muscle group you are trying to strengthen) and then stretch the upper back muscles (combined, this stretching will maximizes the muscle firing).  Once your stretching is done, then strenthen the chest.  Try it!  Craig Liebenson, DC

Chiropractic: Being overweight is bad for your back:  Excess body weight, especially around the waist, puts strain on your back.  It is like carrying a bag of groceries all day.  Being overweight often means being in poor physical condition, with weaker muslces and less flexibility.  Both of these factors can lead to low back pain.  Even losing a few pounds can make a huge difference.

Wellness/ Prevention: Get outside or get sick!  People do not get sick from cold weather, it’s from being indoors a lot more.  The highest concentration of germs is inside, so if you stay indoors more during the winter, you’re expose to more germs.

Quote: ”The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”  Mother Theresa

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, January 18th, 2010

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Depression: coping with aniexty symptoms through lifestyle changes: Experts stress you can do a lot to support your treatment for depression and anxiety.  Try to eat well and get enough sleep.  Don’t rely on alcohol or illicit drugs.  Physical activity is key, as there’s good evidence it can help with mood and may help people bounch back from depression.  Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and disciplines like yoga can help too.  Most people already know this stuff.  Telling people “eating well” or ”exercising” is a good idea is often just preaching the choir.  The key is to figure out ways of integrating better habits for life.   Psychiatric Times, December, 2007

Health Alert: Top 10 countries in drug expenditures per capita: 1. US $878  2. Canada $690 3.  Greece $677 4. France $588 5.  Belgium $566 6. Spain $562 7. Germany $542 8.  Italy $518 9.  Austria $500 10.  Switzerland $454 OECD Health Data, 2009

Diet: How many calories do you really need? To lose weight 1 lb a week reduce calories by 500 a day and become more physically active.  To gain weight, add 500 calories a day for each pound you want to gain per week.

Exercise: The best way to stretch: Always contract the msucle you want to stretch first for 2-5 seconds, take a deep breath in-and-out 1-2 seconds and then stretch.  Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds.  Repeat this process 3-5 times.  The mechanism allows the muscle to relax.  Try it! Example:  If stretching the hamstrings, you should contract the hamstrings first and then go into the stretch.  Herman Kabat, MD, PhD

Chiropractic: Bad posture is not good: Having poor posture, slumping or slouching forces your back muscles to pull and hold your torso up, which can cause low back pain.  Try this! Have a friend put their hand on your back and feel the difference in muscular tension with good posture vs bad posture.  Now imagine having the extra muscular tension all day long!

Wellness/ Prevention: Get your sleep!  You need sleep as much as your need food.  Make sure you get enough sleep because without it, your body and your immune system will weaken.  March Stribich, PH.D.

Quote: ”When the patient loves the disease, how unwilling he is to allow a remedy to be applied.”  Pierre Corneille

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, January 11th, 2010

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Depression: coping with aniexty symptoms: Although many types of talk therapy may help treat aniexty and depression, one approach that shows great results is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).  CBT helps patients identify and then change the thought and behavior patterns contributing to their distress.  For example, in you’re anxious and depressed, you may believe the world is a much more negative and frightening place than it is.  CBT helps expose those ways of thinking and teaches patients ways to develop new and better ones.  Psychiatric Times, December, 2007

Health Alert: Retail prescriptions out of control! Total prescriptions = 3.9 billion; Sales = $270.2 billion; prescriptions per capita = 12.8.  The number of people with at least one prescription increased from 67% in 2000 to 74% in 2006.  National Association of Chain Drug Stores, 2009 & Express Scripts, 2008

Diet: Another benefit of diet and exercise! According to a recent study, obese who lost weight by eating less and exercising more also improved cardiovascular health.  The results showed weight loss led to improvement in four key measures of heart and vascular health.  The improvements seen in the study participants included decreased thickness of heart muscle, improved pumping and relaxation functions of the heart and decreased thickness of the carotid artery walls.  Maximum cardiovascular benefit lagged behind weight loss, with the greatest improvement coming 6-12 months after the study began.  Journal of the American College of Cardiology, December 2009

Exercise: The rules of reciprocal inhibition training: When working out, remember: anterior muscles work opposite posterior muscles, left lateral muscles work opposite right lateral muscles, and left rotation muscles work opposite right rotation muscles.  The best way to remember this is the position of walking.  Example: if you are strengthening your right bicep you should contract your left tricep isometrically.  The right bicep will contract 10-20% more!  Herman Kabat, MD, PhD

Chiropractic: Why does my back hurt? An activity requiring long periods of sitting, lifting, bending, or twisting, repetitive motions, or constant vibration, can lead to back pain.  With regular chiropractic care, proper stretching and smart work habits, you can decrease the risk of back pain.  

Wellness/ Prevention: Oxygen and water for thought: The human brain is about 85% water.  Though it makes up only 2% of our total body weight, the brain demands 20% of the body’s oxygen and calories.  Make sure you drink plenty of water (40% of your body weight in ounces) and perform hourly deep breathing exercises.  Guyon, Anatomy and Physiology

Quote: ”We forget ourselves and our destinies in health and the chief use of temporary sickness is to remind us of these concerns.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, January 4th, 2010

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Benefits of laughter: Laughter increases secretion of catecholamines & endorphines, which increases oxygenation of the blood, relaxes arteries, increases heart rate, decreases blood pressure — all have a positive effect on all cardiovascular & respiratory ailments, as well as an increased immune system responses.  American Journal of Medicine, 1995

Health Alert: Still smoking! In 2007, 43 million or 19.8% of adults were smokers! CDC, 2008

Diet: Flavonoids found in tea decrease risk of heart attack and stroke! The Zutphen study, which assessed 805 male subjects over a period of five years, found the incidence of fatal and nonfatal first myocardial infarction and mortality from stroke decreased significantly as intake of flavonoids, derived mainly from tea, increased.  A follow-up to this study found a high intake of flavonoids significantly lowered the risk of stroke in study participants.  Lancet, 1993 & Archives of Internal Medicine, 1996

Exercise: Exercise & Healing: Regular exercise may accelerate wound healing by 25%.  Skin wounds healed 10 days faster on people who exercised.  (29 days Vs. 39 days).  Ohio State University, Jan 2006

Chiropractic: Chiropractic is effective for treating headaches! Cervical spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement  in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache.  Many times, a chiropractic adjustment can help with chronic or acute headaches.  The adjustment releases short and tight muscles, allowing for optimum blood flow, which decreases the pain from headaches.  Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center, Durham, NC 2001

Wellness/ Prevention: Woman and Cancer: Women who adopted at least 6 of 9 recommendations below were 35% less likely to get cancer and 43% less likely to die from cancer than women who followed zero or one of the following recommendations.

1. maximum body mass index of 25, limit adult weight gain to 11 pounds
2. eat 5 or more servings of fruits and veggies a day
3. eat 7 or more portions of complex carbohydrates a day
4. decrease your consumption of processed foots and refined sugars
5. limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day
6. limit your red meat intake to no more than 3 oz per day
7. decrease fatty foods, particularly animal fats
8. limit intake of salted foods & use in cooking
9. eliminate tobacco use

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, July 2004

Quote: ”Health is a large word.  It embraces not the body only, but the mind and spirit as well.”  ~ James West

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, December 28th,  2009

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Family gaterhings:  If your family fights, or going home for the holidays triggers bad memories, you can cope.  Don’t expect the worse.  Focus on catching up with a cousin or enjoying your favorite dish.  Make a plan.  Have a trusted relative ready to spring you from bad conversations.  Set a time limit.  Stop by for just 15 minutes.  Or if you can’t bear to go, just RSVP “no.” Mental Health America.

Health Alert: Why canned soups can be dangerous to your heatlh:  The food processing world is reeling right now after a shocking new series of tests released by Consumer Reports revealed many leading brands of canned foods contain, BPA, a toxic chemical linked to health risks including reproductive abnormalities, neurological effects, heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health problems.  BPA is used in the lining of cans and the toxin leaches from the lining into the food.  A couple of servings of canned food can exceed scientific limits of daily exposure for children.  The federal government is currently studying the dangers of BPA and advocates are calling on the FDA to ban the use of BPA in food and beverage packaging by the end of the year.  Consumer Reports, Nov. 2009

Diet: Start your day with whole grains:  A bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal has benefits that last all day.  The fiber and complex carbohydrates in whole grains help you feel fuller for longer, so you’ll be less temped to overeat at lunch.  They also help reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol and can be an important part of your weight loss strategy.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2004

Exercise: How to start an exercise program, start slowly: Most people do too much when they start exercising.  It’s OK to break up your exercise into segments.  Even small quantities of exercise add up to big benefits.  Begin with 10-15 minute chunks of activity, several times daily.   Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

Chiropractic: Low back pain – What increases your risk?  Try this simple test:  Place your hand wide open on your friend’s lower back.  Have them simulate a variety of activities from dish washing to brushing their teeth.  You will feel the back tightening immediately.  Most people are in that position all day long.  This “activities of daily living” cause most low back pain.

Wellness/ Prevention: Vinegar heatlh benefits: Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels by 4%-6%.  A study of rats found vinegar could lower high blood pressure.  A study found people who ate oli and vinegar dressing on salads 5-6 times  a week had lower rates of heart disease.  For thousands of years, vinegar has been used for weight loss.  White vinegar (and perhaps other types) might help people feel full.  A 2005 study found those who ate a piece of of bread along with small amounts of white vinegar fel fuller and more satisfied than those who just ate the bread.  European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2005

Quote: ”Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, December 21st,  2009

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Diet moodiness? Low-carb:  A recent study shows a short-term improvement in the moods of people who went on low-fat and low-carb diets.  However, mood gains did not last for people on low-carb diets.  People in both groups got the same daily calorie budget.  They also met regularly with a dietician and completed mood surveys several times during the study.  By the end of the year, people in both groups had lost the same amount of weight, about 30 pounds.  Mood improvements DID last for people for on the low-fat diet.  Researchers suggest the low-carb diet may have been “so far removed” from normal eating patterns that it became a lot of work and a social burden.  Archieves of Internal Medicine

Health Alert: Too Fat? According to the annual America’s Health Rankings, spending to treat the health effects of obesity, $86 billion last year, will quadruple over the next decade, and almost half of the US adults will be obese by 2018.  If obesity rates held at current levels, on the other hand, the US would save nearly $200 billion in health care costs.    Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Diet: Unsaturatured fats protect the heart:  Fat is needed in our diet – about 25-35% of our daily calories.  However, not all fats are equal.  Unsaturated fats- like those found in canola, olive and safflower oils – lower LDL “bad” cholesterol levels and may help raise HDL “good” cholesterol.  Saturated fats – like those found in butter and palm oil – and trans fats raise LDL “bad” cholesterol.  Even good fats have calories, so eat in moderation.  American Heart Association

Exercise: How to start an exercise program, use whatever gets you going: Some us need a little something extra to keep us exercising from week to week.  For some, this could be working out with an mp3 player like an iPOD.  For others, it could be listening to audiobooks as you walk, or watching favorite TV shows while you use the treadmill or stationary bike.   Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

Chiropractic: Myth: Causes of back pain: Injuries: Spine injuries such as sprains and fractures can cause either short-lived or chronic back pain.  Sprains are tears in the ligaments that support the spine, and they can occur from twisting or lifting improperly.  Back pain may be caused by more severe injuries that result from accidents and falls.  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Wellness/ Prevention: Posture safety:  Poor posture can lead to a variety of health problems over time.   Take a moment to do your own survey: take a look at people in their 40′s, 50′s, 60′s and 70′s.  If people have bad posture, they almost always LOOK unhealthy.  On the flip side, people with good posture people will almost ALWAYS look healthy.

Quote: ”Life is not merely being alive, but being well.” ~ Martial, Epigrams

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, December 14th,  2009

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Teaching the mind to treat insomnia:  Changing bad sleep habits and clearing the mind with meditation may offer drug-free alternatives to traditional insomnia treatments.  Researchers say insomnia is not a nighttime- only afflication but a 24- hour problem of hyperarousal.  Teaching deep relaxation techniques during the day can help improve sleep at night.  Insomniacs who started mediation showed improvement in sleep quality and quantity.  They also took less time to fall asleep, woke fewer times and had fewer symptoms of depression.  Ramadevi Gourineni, MD, Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Health Alert: Poll: Majority of Americans support medical malpractice reform: 54% favor making it harder to sue doctors and hospitals for mistakes taking care of patients, while 32% are opposed.  The rest are undecided or don’t know.  Limits on jury awards in malpractice cases could reduce the federal deficit by $54 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, because doctors caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients would order up fewer tests to guard against being sued.  Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Diet: For health heart, look to the sea:  A heart-healthy diet includes fish twice a week.  Why? Fish is low in saturated fat and high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  Omega-3 fatty acids help lower levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.  They may also help lower cholesterol, slowing the growth of plaque in arteries.  The best fish: salmon, tuna, trout, and sardines.  Also, don’t drop the filets in the deep fryer – you’ll negate the health benefits.  American Heart Association

Exercise: Just walk: One of the easiest ways for most people to work in exercise is to walk.  Wearing a pedometer adds extra motivation by keeping you working toward a goal.  This works particularly well for people who have a sit-down job or live a sedentary lifestyle.  You could aim for 10,000 – 15,000 steps a day, starting with 5,000 steps (or less) and working your way up.   Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

Chiropractic: Myth: Mechanical causes of back pain:  A mechanical problem is due to the way your spine moves or the way you feel when you move. Perhaps the most common mechanical cause of back pain is a condition called intevertebral disk degeneration, which means that the disks located between the vertebrae of your spine are breaking down with age.  As they deteriorate, they dehydrate, lose their elastic cushioning and weaken.  When stress is applied to the back, the surrounding soft tissue can inflame and cause pain.  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Wellness/ Prevention: 80% Chance of back pain:  How can you  be part of the 20% who do not get low back pain?  Take care of your back by daily stretching, watch how you lift, avoid repetitive trauma and get routine chiropractic adjustments.  Prevention is the key to decreasing your risk of debilitating low back pain.  Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Quote: ”Rest, as soon as there is pain, as rest is a great restorative in body disturbances.”  Hippocrates

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, December 7th,  2009

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Eating dark chocolate may lower stress hormones:  A new study shows eating the equivalent of one dark chocolate candy bar (1.4 ounces)  each day for two weeks reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as the “fight-or-flight” hormones known as catecholamines in stressed people.  Dark chocolate is also rich in a class of antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been linked to a number of health benefits.  Researchers are investigating other dark chocolate benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity, reduced blood pressure and improved moods.  Journal of Proteome Research, Nov 2009.

Health Alert: Still smoking!  Even after Surgeon General Luther Terry documented smoking causes lunch cancer in January 1964, people continue to smoke (17.5% of US adults in 2005- 29th ranked in the world).  Here are 5 countries with the highest percentage of adults who still smoke.  1.  Austria 36.3% 2. Greece 35.0% 3. Hungary 33.8% 4. Luxembourg 33.0% 5. Turkey 32.1% Daily Smokers Health Data, 2005

Diet: Serve up the heart-healthy food: Load your plate with fruits and vegetables — five to nine servings a day– to help lower (bad) LDL bad cholesterol.  Antioxidants in these foods may provide the benefit.  Or, it may be the when we eat more fruits and vegetables, we eat less fat.  Foods enriched with plant sterols, such as margarine spreads, yogurts, and other foods, can also help lower LDL cholsterol.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2006.

Exercise: How to start an exercise program – set up a non-food reward system:  Reward yourself when you accomplish one of your fitness goals.  Perhaps your goal could be:  staying on track with your exercise for a full week or month, or reaching  a milestone in terms of mile ran, etc.  Your reward should be a NON-FOOD, such as a movie, massage or pedicure.  Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

Chiropractic: Myth: Exercise is bad for your back:  First, we need to make sure any torn tissue or broken bone is not causing your back pain and the acute inflammatory response has slowed enough to amke stretching and exercise beneficial.  Once this is established, regular exercise can speed up recovery and help reduce the risk of future episodes of low back pain.  Focused stretching and a gradual exercise program are best.  Always consulth with your chiropractor in Springfield, VA before starting an exercise program to make sure you are not running the risk or re-injuring yourself and the exercises are being done properly.  Marcus Strutz, DC

Wellness/ Prevention: A cup of tea for your health: Short-term and long-term consumption of black tea by people with coronary artery disease restored bllod vessel function to levels similar to that of healthy subjects.  Circulation, 2001

Quote: ”There is no curing a sick man who believes himself in health.” ~ Henri Amiel, 1877

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Weekly Health Update

Week of: Monday, November 30th,  2009

Courtsey of:

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

(703) 912-7822

Mental Attitude: Taking care of you – great ways to self nurture: 1.) Have a cup of your favorite coffee or tea.  2.)  Spend time in nature (walk in the sunshine, spend time near the water, cloud watching, or enjoy a sunset) 3.)  Get a massage (touch can be very healing).   Terri Marshall

Health Alert: MRI Abundance may lead to excess back surgeries!  Patients reporting new low back pain are more likely to undergo surgery if treated in an area with a higher than average concentration of MRI machines.  This is bad news for patients, as previous studies have found increased surgery rates do not improve patient outcomes.  Michelle Brandt, Stanford University Medical Center.

Diet: Unsaturated fats protect the heart!  We all need fat in our diet – about 25-35% of our daily calories.  Unsaturated fats — like those found in canola, olive, and safflower oils – lower LDL “bad” cholesterol levels and may help raise HDL “good” cholesterol.   Saturated fats – like those found in butter and palm oil – and trans fats raise LDL cholesterol.  Even good fats have calories, so eat in moderation.  Kelly Kwiatkowski

Exercise: Move it!  Even 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week (20 minutes three times a week for vigorous exercise, such as jogging)  can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol – although more exercise is even better.  Exercise also helps you maintain an ideal weight, reducing your chance of developing clogged arteries.  You don’t have to exercise for 30 minutes straight – you can break it up into 10 minute increments.  American Heart Association

Chiropractic: Risk factors for back pain that you can change:  1.)  Not getting regular exercise — Doing a job or other activity that requires long periods of sitting, lifting heavy objects, bending or twisting, repetitive motions, or constant vibration.  2.)  Smoking — Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have low back pain.  3.)  Being overweight — Excessive body weight, especially around the waist, may put strain on your back.  Being overweight often means being in poor physical condition, wieht weaker muscles and less flexibility.  4.)  Poor posture — Slumping or slouching along may not cause low back pain, but after the back has been strained or injured, bad posture can make pain worse.  5.)  Stress — Stress is believed to play a major role in low back pain, particulary chronic low back pain.  Many people unconsciously tighten their back muscles when they are stressed.  Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH

Wellness/ Prevention: 3 Natural ways to reduce inflammation:  1.)  Shrink your waist size — Women with a waist over 35 inches or men over 40 inches, probably have high inflammation.  2.)  Get enough sleep  –  Elderly people with high blood pressure who sleep less than 7.5 hours a night have dramatically elevated chances of having a stroke or heart attack.  Other research has shown that too little and too much sleep increases inflammation.  The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says most adults need between 7-8 hours of sleep a night.  3.)  Reduce stress — High levels of stress hormones can lead to the release of excess inflammatory chemicals.  US News & World Report, November 2008

Quote: ”One should eat to live, not live to eat.”  Socrates

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