Back to school (pic), Kacee’s Pikes Peak Marathon Race report (pic) AND this week’s 1-Page Health News
Hi Glenn,
Well, Cherry Creek Schools started the 2014-2015 school today (Monday), and my kids were happy to get back to their friends. Where did the summer go so quickly???
Zach, Andrew, and Jason: ready to learn
Kacee’s Pikes Peak Marathon Race Report:
Kacee on her way to the finish
“Race day came and went and I’m still walking…however very tired!
This was my 3rd year doing the Pikes Peak Marathon and I knew I wanted to finish with a PR. Doubts crept in the week leading up, over the weekend and at the start. I knew I could finish because I had done the marathon the 2 years prior, but I started thinking about what parts of my training I definitely didn’t pay as much attention to.
The first 10 miles of the race, I was surprised at how good I was feeling. That feeling soon ended around mile 11. The air was getting thinner and my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I rested on a few boulders as I (literally) inched my way to the top and took a few deep breaths to get myself somewhat back to a normal breathing pattern. When I reached the top, the tears came, I took a deep breath, turned around and headed back down.
The turn around is my favorite part and I very much enjoy the downhill run. Body wise I was feeling strong again which was a plus as the downhill brings about major falls for some racers. I saw 3 people go down and one finished with a sprained ankle and dislocated shoulder.
I finished under my goal time and am ready for next year! If you’ve ever even entertained the idea of doing the ascent or the full at Pikes Peak, I highly recommend it. It’s unlike any marathon and it will change you as a person and athlete.”
This week’s 1-Page Health News…
Diet: Your Child May Be Consuming Too Many Vitamins & Minerals.
The Environmental Working Group believes that fortifying foods with vitamins and minerals is placing children in danger. The report summarizes how millions of American children under eight years of age are getting too much vitamin A, zinc, and niacin from fortified food products and supplements. The problem is the result of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines on voluntary food supplementation (last updated 34 years ago) that do not take current scientific evidence into account. The report recommends that until the FDA makes the Daily Values on food labels reflect up-to-date science and show values for children, parents should limit their child’s intake of fortified food to no more than 20-25% of the adult Daily Value for vitamin A, zinc, and niacin.
Environmental Working Group Report, June 2014
Exercise: Exercise May Benefit Pregnant Women with High Blood Pressure.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, are the most common and dangerous pregnancy complications, occurring in 5-8% of pregnancies. An animal study revealed that placental ischemia-induced hypertension in rats was alleviated by exercise. Researcher Jeff Gilbert explains, “The data from our study raise the possibility that exercise regimens, if started before pregnancy and maintained through most of gestation, may be an important way for women to mitigate the risk of preeclampsia.”
Journal of the American Heart Association, December 2012
Chiropractic: Back Pain Patients Have Less Flexible Hamstrings.
Evaluations of 72 patients with low back pain indicate a possible relationship between mechanical back pain and hamstring tightness. Researchers found that patients with more severe back pain had tighter hamstrings than patients with more mild or moderate pain. They recommend this data be considered when designing both prevention strategies and rehabilitation protocols for low back pain.
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, June 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Breast Cancer Detection Rate Improves with New Screening Technique.
Adding a 3D imaging technique called tomosynthesis to digital mammography appears to result in both a reduction in the number of patients being called back for additional testing and an increase in breast cancer detection rates. Digital tomosynthesis takes multiple X-ray pictures from different angles. The breast is positioned as it is for a conventional mammogram, but less pressure is applied. Instead of a single image with conventional mammograms, this technique offers a 3D image for a better evaluation of the breast. Dr. Sarah M. Friedewald writes, “The association with fewer unnecessary tests and biopsies, with a simultaneous increase in cancer detection rates, would support the potential benefits of tomosynthesis as a tool for screening. However, assessment for a benefit in clinical outcomes is needed.”
JAMA, June 2014