Health and wellness today

Health and wellness news and features from around the web:

Hospitals, medical centers offering meditation and more (ABC News): “Health care providers are increasingly suggesting that their patients look to meditation and other integrative techniques to improve their health, according to a report released Monday by Harvard Medical School and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Many medical centers and institutions, in fact, are providing such services themselves. Some of these offerings include massage therapy, yoga, meditation, tai chi, hypnosis and Reiki.”

Breastfeeding may help quell behavior problems (MedicineNet): “Breastfed children are less likely to have behavioral problems at age 5 than are those who were given formula, a new study reports. The researchers suggested that the content of breast milk could be a reason for the differences. Breast milk contains large amounts of certain fatty acids, growth factors and hormones important in the development and function of an infant's brain and central nervous system, they explained.”

Newborn vitamin D levels tied to infection risk (Reuters): “Newborns with low vitamin D levels may have a heightened risk of developing a certain type of lung infection before their first birthday, a new study suggests. The infection is caused by a bug known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers found that infants with inadequate vitamin D levels at birth were about six times more likely than others to develop RSV bronchiolitis in their first year of life.”

Massaging the bully out of the kid (BCLocalNews.com): “If a local massage therapist has her way, elementary students in the Tournament Capital will soon be rubbing each other’s shoulders to become better students and better friends. Jenn Johnson, a Kamloops-based registered massage therapist and the B.C. organizer for the Massage in Schools Program (MISP), is attempting to get local kids involved in the idea. “In schools where they’ve implemented it, they’ve found that there’s been a decrease in aggression and the students are learning better,” she said. “It somehow just seems to foster respect and empathy between kids and it makes them better learners.”

Chiropractic can ease discomforts of pregnancy (Medill Reports): “The benefits of receiving chiropractic treatments during pregnancy are vast. In addition to easing discomfort, it can aid in turning a baby that is in a breech position before birth, help to prevent an unwanted cesarean birth and can also have a big impact on the length of labor and delivery. For some pregnant women, chiropractic care can mean the difference between a comfortable, relatively pain-free pregnancy and nine months of discomfort.”

(Photo credit: sneakerdog on Twitter)

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