In this May 6, 2021 video, Dr. David “Dr. Dave” Koivuranta of the Toronto Neck and Back Pain Clinic delivers a concise daily health update covering six distinct health‑related topics, each anchored in recent peer‑reviewed research. He begins with a disclaimer that the segment is informational, not diagnostic or therapeutic, and invites viewers to request a written copy. The six topics are: (1) a Journal of Neurology (April 2021) study linking declines in vision and hearing to increased dementia risk; (2) a Kidney International (April 2021) report showing that cycling improves heart health for dialysis patients; (3) a Nordic Journal of Psychiatry (April 2021) trial where 14 weeks of aerobic exercise boosted self‑image, relationships, school performance, and family life in 16 adolescents with persistent major depression; (4) a Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open (March 2021) paper suggesting that the National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Scale administered shortly after trauma can predict later PTSD; (5) an Ear, Nose & Throat Journal (April 2021) finding that low vitamin D status is associated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV); and (6) a Gait & Posture (February 2021) study demonstrating that smartphone use degrades neck, upper‑mid‑back, and lower‑back posture, raising spinal pain risk. For each, Dr. Dave offers practical take‑aways—monitor sensory health, consider cycling for dialysis patients, encourage aerobic activity for depressed teens, seek early PTSD screening, have vitamin D levels checked if prone to vertigo, and maintain neutral head posture while using devices. He closes with a friendly invitation to contact the clinic for tips, a promise of a written summary, and a weekend well‑wish.
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Hello everyone, it's Dr. Dave. Hopefully you're all doing well, enjoying your week, having fun with whatever you may be doing. Coming at you on behalf of the Toronto Neck and Back Pain Clinic with your daily health update for Thursday, May 6th, 2021. Gonna share with you 6 areas of health and wellness as we do most days of the week. Somewhere around this video you can read through all 6 areas, and if you'd like a copy, you can DM us on social, send us an email, give us a call at the clinic. We'll be sure to get that to you. Not gonna treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any illness or disease with our our time together today. However, by listening to, reading, and/or participating in some of the latest research and literature, it may just help steer some of your thoughts, decisions, choices, and actions today for your own health and wellness and those around you. That creates some positive momentum for those great experiences you're looking to create and have each and every day, because you do live your life through your body, and the happier your body is, the happier your days might go by, and that's always a good thing. The Journal of Neurology, April 2021, looked at a decrease in vision and hearing and how a loss in those two senses could be an indication or risk factor for dementia down the road. You may want to read through some of that. If you happen to know someone who is a dialysis patient, the Kidney International, uh, report April 2021 said that cycling can promote heart health for dialysis patients. You may want to read through that as well. And our teenagers could use some ongoing support to encourage them to stay active. The Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, April 2021, looked at aerobic exercise and how it benefits depressed teens. So they looked at 16 teenagers with persistent major depression, and the researchers observed that participating in a 14-week aerobic exercise program resulted in improvements in their self-image, relationships, and school performance and family life. So that fitness is not about how you look and feel, but also about how, uh, you do feel in terms of your mental health and wellness though as well. But not just physically feel, but your overall feelings can improve. You get the idea. Trauma patients could develop PTSD, and according to Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open, March 2021, there may be a way to predict it. New research suggests that administering an assessment called the National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Scale in the days following hospital admission for physical trauma can help doctors identify patients at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. So very useful test there that people can engage in. So if you've had trauma and you're worried about the impact of that trauma down the road, that might be something you want to look into. You could contact a qualified healthcare provider. We talk about vitamin D a lot on the Daily Health Update because it, as a nutrient, as a substance in your body, has a lot of different roles. And the Ear, Nose and Throat Journal, April 2021, looked at the connection of low vitamin D and vertigo. So benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, also known as BPPV, is described as a spinning sensation that usually is triggered by changing one's head position. A comparison of blood samples collected from 69 BPPV patients and 68 age-matched controls showed an increased risk for low vitamin D status in the benign paroxysmal vertigo patients, suggesting that low vitamin D levels may be a risk factor for the condition. So some people who have experienced this, it actually recurs. And if you might be one of those or know somebody, maybe be a good idea to ask your healthcare provider to check your vitamin D levels. It may or may not be playing a role in those vertigo episodes. Finally, Gait and Posture, February 2021, looks at cell phone use and posture. Once again, they looked at 50 adults while they performed tasks on their smartphone in both standing and seated positions, and it revealed that the device use affects their neck, upper mid-back, and lower back posture, increasing the risk for spinal pain. So today, when you're on your gadgets, your technology, your phone, your tablet your laptop, your computer, try and make some corrections so that you're looking forward at those things, even if it's a book, instead of looking down at them. It could be useful not only to how it looks with the aesthetics of your posture, but your posture does affect your body's ability to function at its best in various different ways, not just physically but also neurologically. So it's good to keep an eye on that posture for sure. And if we can send you any tips or you have questions about your posture, please be sure to reach out. We're happy help. It's what we do best here every day. All right, that's your daily health update for Thursday rolling into the weekend. We'll have a written format for you posted tomorrow, and we hope you enjoy your weekend. Have some fun, take care of yourself, feed your body, mind, and soul with some good stuff, and we'll be back on Monday, and, uh, we'll look forward to sharing a video with you then. Take care, all the best.
