Slow Nerves?

Not much of a reader? Listen...

What would you feel if your nerves were slow? Fatigue? Brain-fog? Pain? Weakness?

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and connected nerves that go everywhere in the body. Most people don't realize that our nervous system controls every function in the body, from how fast your heart beats to the perception of pain to digestion, just to name a few. If your nerves aren't working right, then you aren't working right.

The speed of transmission of nerve signals is different for different things. For instance, pain travels slower than touch. Touch travels about 350 feet per second; pain travels two feet per second. When you stub your toe you feel the pressure first, then the pain. Thinking is in the mid-range of speed at about 100 feet per second. Maybe even slower for some people you know!

Exercise and movement will keep your nerves firing. This is described in a great book called "Spark" by John Ratey, MD. Dr. Ratey reviewed studies of children and academics as related to exercise and brain function. An excellent book if you like that amount of detail and are a biology nerd like me.

People come to my office with spinal dysfunction. One type of dysfunction is subluxation, an abnormal movement of a vertebra causing nervous system interference. An adjustment is fantastic at restoring the speed of the nerves in the area and allowing the nervous system to do its job.

Chiropractic care helps your spine and nervous system by maximizing nerve transmission. If your nerves are working slow then your body will not be working like it should. Without good nervous system function you are not going to function at 100%.

So don't let your bones get on your nerves. Get checked for subluxations and if found, get treatment. You will not only feel better but your nerves will be able to function better, making you a healthier person from the inside out.


19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- http://backexperts.com/

Slow Nerves?

How would you feel if your nerves were slow? Tired? Brain-fog? Pain? Weakness? The nervous system is made up of the Brain, spinal cord and connected nerves that go everywhere in the body. Most people don't realize that our nervous system controls every function in the body from how fast your heart beats to perception of pain and digestion just to name a few. If your nerve arn't working right, they your aren't working right.

The speed of transmission of nerve signals if different for different things. For instance, pain travels slower than touch. Touch travels about 350 feet per second, pain travels 2 feet per second. When you stub your toe you feel the pressure first, then the pain. Thinking is in the mid-range of speed at about 100 feet per second. Maybe even slower for some people you know.

How can you make sure your nerves are not working slow? Exercise and movement will keep your nerves firing. This is described in a great book called Spark by John Ratey, MD. Dr. Ratey reviewed studies of children and academics as related to exercise and Brain function. An excellent book if you like that amount of detail and are a biology nerd like me.

People come to my office with spinal dysfunction. One type of dysfunction is subluxation, abnormal movement of a vertebra causes nervous system interference. An adjustment is fantastic at restoring the nerve speed of the nerves in the area and allowing the nervous system to do it's job.

Chiropractic care helps your spine and nervous system by maximizing nerve transmission. If your nerves are working slow then your body will not be working like it should. Without good nervous system function you are not going to function at 100%.

So dont let your bones get on your nerves. Get checked for subluxations and if found get treatment. You will not only feel better but your nerves will be able to function better making you a healthier person from the inside-out.


19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- http://backexperts.com/

My Introduction to Chiropractic

It's been about 20 years since my first chiropractic adjustment.


19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- www.backexperts.com

Running on the River Ring in Florissant

I had the opportunity to go for a run yesterday on a trail not far from the office called the Sunset Greenway Trail. It's just north of the office on Humes. A nice path a little over 3 miles going from Old Town Florissant to the River at Sunset Park. You may not know that this path is part of the River Ring.

This River Ring is a plan by "The Great Rivers Greenway District" to create a 600 mile ring of trails around all of St. Louis. This project started 5 years ago with the plan to connect over 100 municipalities in Missouri and Illinois. This River Ring has a spur into Florissant called the Sunset Greenway. I wanted to invite you to get outside and walk, run or ride this season. Incorporate this trail into your walk or run next time your are out. For more information about the River Ring in Florissant visit their website.

19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- www.backexperts.com

CRaking your Knuckles gives you arthritis?

19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- www.backexperts.com

WORKSHOP: Fight Spinal Decay with at Home Exercises

Tomorrow I will conduct a great workshop on at-home exercises.  Specifically  how these exercises help prevent spinal decay (AKA arthritis).  As of this writing there are 6 seats still available.  Register at http://backexperts.com/seminars/.

Have a healthy day.


19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911-  www.backexperts.com

Couch to 5K Participant Packet

You can find everything for our Couch to 5K program at www.mybackexperts.com


19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- www.backexperts.com

19 Mullanphy Gardens; Florissant, MO; 63031

314-837-9911 www.backexperts.com

visit ....

Top Cyclists on Tour de France Skip Pasta

At this years Tour de France, one team has decided to skip the traditional pasta meals and replace them with low-inflammatory foods. 

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/07/25/our-special-anti-inflammatory-diet

Whole Food And More: Drinking Coffee And NOT Eating In The Morning Halts Weight Loss

If you have attended my workshop on Smart Eating, you will remember I discussed the way your body shifts to storage mode if you skip breakfast. Here is a link to a woman sharing her experience with a diet called Extreme Regimen Weight Control. She discusses how caffeine in the morning suppresses appetite, which is not a good thing if you are trying to lose weight. - Dr. Anderson

Whole Food And More: Drinking Coffee And NOT Eating In The Morning Halts Weight Loss

View our diet page here.

Cracking High Blood Pressure

View video directly by clicking this link YouTube.com

Couch to 5K Registration

I would like to invite you to be with us on July 29th at 6pm for "Couch to 5K". We will discuss how to begin a program of walking/running to complete a 5K run in November. Register for this free program here.A exercise plan will be provided and an optional group run/walk event November 8th in St. Charles. It's a flat 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) route, a great first run/walk. If you are experienced in running or want to pick up a healthy hobby sign-up today. The class by Dr. Anderson is free, the race is $19.

• Reserve your Spot at: Dr. Anderson's free workshop
• Sign up for race at: Race to Cure Lymphoma Registration Page

Participants, find the info packet at www.mybackexperts.com

Diet OR Exercise to lose weight?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702101351.htm

Smoothy Recipe

I'm a big fan of smoothies. Here is a great recipe to start with. Throw all this into a high speed blender and you are set. It will be around 350 calories. If you have other suggestions please leave a comment. Thanks.

• 8 oz of milk
• 2-3 tablespoons of frozen fruit (Raspberries, blueberries, bananas, etc.)
• 1-2 tablespoons of yogurt one scoop of protein powder

Extras: Peanut Butter; Oatmeal; Ground Flax Seed; ice (if you use fresh fruit)

Seminar: Eating Smart

We did this workshop last night. Here are the slides and audio for your pleasure. Link to Smoothly Recipe.

School Physicals at Back Experts

Summer Seminar Series

Next week in our paper newsletter we will announce the Summer Seminar Series here at Back Experts. As a subscriber to our site, you get first crack at registering (notice chiropractic humor). You can register for free at backexperts.com/seminars.

Every Tuesday starting July 1st, we will offer free seminars. These 30 minute sessions cover topics on chiropractic care, running a 5K, home exercises, losing weight and much more. The are not only informative but we mix a little humor along the way. Of course refreshments will be provided.

I would like to bring to your attention to a couple special programs. On July 29th I’ll present “Couch to 5K”, If you have never exercised and are a specialist at sitting on the couch it’s time to get off the couch and 13 weeks later run the Race to Cure Lymphona in St. Charles November 8th. We’ll have a great time getting in shape and running (or walking) the 5K together.

The other special event is September 30th. I’ll discuss the nature of disc herniations and ways you can recover and regain a normal life without surgery. We see success over and over with patients. This workshop will cover lifestyle modifications that will prevent relapse and nutritional considerations for the health of the disc.

Forward this to everyone you know who eats food, moves their body or is breathing.

Don't forget to view all our topics and register here: http://backexperts.com/seminars

Thanks.

Ice or Heat?

You just felt something snap in a muscle. You fall to the ground and the pain and swelling begin. What do you put on the injury? Heat or Ice?

There has always been debate on this issue. After 14 years of studying the matter here is my conclusion.

• Always put ice on an injury, 15 minutes per hour as many hours as you like.
• Use heat if you have a old chronic injury.
  
• When in doubt, ice.

When you first have an injury there is swelling, ice helps the swelling. Use a gel pack or bag of ice cubes and apply to the injures area. Putting it over a shirt of thin towel will help keep the skin from getting too cold. Make sure to limit the ice to 10-15 minutes. More than that can do damage to small capillaries and nerves in the area.

When using heat it must always be moist heat. Adding moisture will prevent local dehydration which increase muscle spasm. Remember, don't use heat on a new injury.

Post a comment on this page if there are any questions, glad to help.

For more information...

• Ice therapy: how good is the evidence?
• Arthritis Patients Choose Chiropractic
• Why are you walking on your knees?
• Exercise page at Back Experts
  

Considering Exercise? Start running.

I had the opportunity to run my first 1/2 Marathon a few weeks ago. The thing about that...I'm not a runner. I always played around with the idea of running but was never able to incorporate exercise into my life.

A year ago this month, after climbing a single flight of stairs from my basement, it hit me. The 13 steps from my basement to my first floor challenged my cardiovascular system so much that I felt out of breath, winded and woefully out of shape.

Being healthy is not about how you look, it about how you work.

Avacado: The Perfect Food.

If you have attended any of our talks on nutrition you know about the benefits of avacados.

Autonomics Hold Key to Good Health

There is system in your body that controls how fast you digest your food, your heart rate, the amount of mucus your nose secretes. It's called the autonomic nervous system.

The chart to the right shows how your spinal cord connects to the organs of your body. Chiropractic for years have used this mechanism to aid in restoring patients health. Subluxations

Chiropractic for Military

Chiropractors and the Military

“H.R. 5658 is a bipartisan bill that explicitly states that chiropractic is an integral component of the Pentagon’s health care delivery system, and it is the committee’s intention that this language will increase access to chiropractic care at more facilities worldwide,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC.

Should you seek out doctors who are physically active?

Dr. Ronald Davis, president of the American Medical Association, thinks that may be wise. He cites a study by Dr. Erica Frank, which seemed to show that doctors who are physically active are also more likely to provide meaningful advice on exercise.

Doctors who are athletes are less likely to give untoward advice, such as saying that running destroys the knees or that you need an electrocardiogram before you can exercise. Athletic doctors are also less likely to tell an active person who is injured or ill to stop exercising.

Read More...

Americans Taking Prescription Drugs in Greater Numbers

Here's an indication of our declining health as a country, Americans buy more medicine per person than any other county in the world. Why aren't we the healthiest country in the world? - Dr. A
--

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a study shows.

The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol -- problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

The numbers were gathered last year by Medco Health Solutions Inc., which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.

Experts say the data reflect not just worsening public health but better medicines for chronic conditions and more aggressive treatment by doctors. For example, more people are now taking blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medicines because they need them, said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, president of the American Heart Association.

In addition, there is the pharmaceutical industry's relentless advertising. With those factors unlikely to change, doctors say the proportion of Americans on chronic medications can only grow.

''Unless we do things to change the way we're managing health in this country ... things will get worse instead of getting better,'' predicted Jones, a heart specialist and dean of the University of Mississippi's medical school.

Americans buy much more medicine per person than any other country. But it was unclear how their prescriptions compare to those of insured people elsewhere. Comparable data were not available for Europe, for instance.

Read the whole article at the New York Times

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: May 14, 2008

Posture, more important than you think.

You know the person who is hunched over all the time, always looking at the floor. Their spine simply does not allow them to stand up straight. How does this happen? If your answer is osteoporosis, then you are only partially right.

The forward posture of the head is caused by years of stretching of the ligaments that support the spine. Yes, osteoporosis (the condition that causes bone weakened and small fractures throughout the spine) can be a major factor. But what most people do not realize is that forward posture is actually caused by repetitive micro trauma.

Small traumas throughout out the day that allows your ligaments to stretch. Maybe you drive all day flattening out the curves in the lower back or maybe you are hunched over a computer all day stressing and straining your neck. These stresses on your spine will eventually take its toll on your spine and result in poor posture.

The solution to aging gracefully is to have good habits and a very important habit is watching your posture.

Posture is not just about looking good. Abnormal posture is a serious health condition. The American Journal of Pain Management says that "posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture."

If you look in the mirror and see a shoulder low or your head jetting forward the process has begun. Stop it before it become permanent with chiropractic care, postural exercises and rehabilitation. Call our office for more information, simply exercising 5 minutes a day may make the biggest difference in your health.

Exercise Helps Make Insulin

Our bodies were made to move. Here is another story about the benefits of exercise, this time with sugar regulation, the great thing is the effects were seen after one week. Diabetics (or those who are on their way) have take note. - Dr. A
--

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sedentary older people at risk of developing diabetes showed significant improvement in the function of their insulin-making beta cells after just one week of exercise, University of Michigan researchers found.

Beta cell function is known to decline with age, although it is not clear why, Drs. Cathie J. Bloem and Annette M. Chang explain in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

As people age, they may also become less sensitive to the blood sugar-regulating effects of insulin and develop impaired insulin secretion, the researchers add. And while short-term exercise boosts insulin sensitivity, it has not been clear how it might affect beta cell function.

To investigate, Bloem and Chang had 12 sedentary individuals aged 60 and older perform an hour-long workout every day for a week. The exercise sessions, consisting of stints on a treadmill, exercise bike and cross-training machine, required study participants to work out at 60 percent to 70 percent of their maximum heart rate capacity.

After the exercise period, study participants' sensitivity to insulin had increased by 53 percent, on average, while a measure of beta cell function called the disposition index had risen by 28 percent. However there were no changes in their fat mass, levels of fat in the blood, or other factors that might explain the effect of exercise on beta cells.

"Longer-term exercise training studies are required and are currently in progress to evaluate further exercise training effects on beta cell function in age-related glucose intolerance," the researchers note.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, February 2008.

Why are you walking on your knees?

I came across a guy named Ben last week who was walking on his knees. Yea, he decided that walking on his feet wasn't for him so he would bend his legs and actually walk on his knees. It turns out that by walking on his knees he didn't need to bend as much making his back feel better. He also noticed that his feet didn't hurt him like they use to.

Every few days Ben's knees started hurting so he would walk upright for that day. He would put ice on them and take some Tylenol, that always fixed it. Then back to the knees. He has been using his knee strategy for a few years and it's working out great. A great conversation starter.

It's too bad, Ben's knees are going to deteriorate and he is oblivious. Knees are not made to work that way.

I used this fictitious little story to help you get a glimpse into my world. I see people abusing their bodies everyday. I tell these real life "Bens" to "walk on their feet" but they are just fine taking a Tylenol every morning to "fix the problem".

Most spinal problems never have to be. With early education and proper maintenance, your spine should easily last 100 years. Unfortunately preventative maintenance of the spine is often lacking in our symptom based world.

So the next time you see someone "walking on their knees":

• Bad posture
• Lifting with their legs
• Talking a Tylenol or other pain medication for pain that keeps coming back

Send them to your chiropractor.

Have a great weekend,
Dr. A

A Kitchen Oil Fire

A patient of ours sent me a link to this video. It's from a British fire safety awareness group. Very Interesting... Dr. A

akitchenoilfire.wmv

Are Growth Hormones in Milk Bad?

There has always been some concern and debate about the safety of growth hormone in milk. Nothing has been demonstrated conclusively as a fact sheet from Cornell University outlines. Consumers don't want growth hormone in their milk and Walmart is responding. Starbucks, Kroger and Safeway have also begun the switch. I personally don't give my children milk from cows that have been given these growth hormones.

Decide for yourself:
Growth Hormones in Milk is...
no problem - Cornell University
may be a problem - Natural News

Knee Pain and Chiropractic Adjustment

That pain in your knee is often what doctors call patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Simple activities such as running, jumping, or going up and down stairs can contribute to knee pain, which means that most of us will eventually suffer from some form of PFPS.

It has been suggested that PFPS can be relieved by sufficient stretching and lengthening of tight structures around the patella (the kneecap). A study in the Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System investigated this potential intervention in 30 patients with PFPS. Patients were divided into two groups: The first group received "patella mobilization" (extension of the knee with pressure and movement applied for 10 minutes, followed by patellar adjustment in the direction of restricted movement); the second group received detuned ultrasound as placebo (five minutes of ultrasound, but with the intensity set at zero).

Patients receiving mobilization had positive improvements in PFPS symptoms compared with the placebo group. The authors note that this type of conservative care may be useful when combined with other treatment options such as exercise, orthotics and activity modification. If you're suffering from knee pain and would like to know more about nonsurgical approaches to relieving your pain, contact us.

Rowlands BW, Brantingham JW. The efficacy of patella mobilization in patients suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome. Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System: Vol. 7, No. 4, pp142-49.

Kids Need Breakfast

We all need a good breakfast. It provides the fuel for our day and helps us stay healthy.

The journal, Pediatrics reported a study of 2216 children over 5 years. They looked at eating and exercises habits among these kids. The study found that skipping breakfast in children leads to weight gain. They also found that girls were more likely to skip this critical meal.

Moral of the story, eat your breakfast. Even if it's just a quick bowl of cereal. - Dr. A

Anatomy Resource

I'm a fan of anatomy. Anatomy hasn't changed in many years. There are new discoveries and understanding of the human body but overall it's constant.

There are many fascinating things about our body. How our body temperature is regulated. Our ability to push our physical limits and come back stronger. How the brain (a 3 pound mass in your head) controls and coordinates every bodily function.

Unlike a machine, the more we use our bodies the better it gets. We see this with exercise, sports, even mental endeavors. If you don't use it you loose it.

Our body is amazing. Seemingly unconnected things like good posture and heart function are linked. I've always wondered, why do our ears keep growing throughout our lives? Your ear will be one inch longer when you reach 100!

If you're interested in exploring anatomy, I found a website that offers a very comprehensive look at human anatomy, it's called www.visiblebody.com and it's free.

In Health,
Dr. A

VIDEO: Dr. Anderson Discusses Scoliosis

Fish Oil Good for Stroke Prevention

A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that fatty fish and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid may be as effective at reducing the risk of thrombotic stroke.

Investigators tracked 79,839 female nurses. At the onset of the study, the subjects ranged in age from 34 to 59 years. Food frequency questionnaires were used to ascertain the women's intake of fish oil and Omega 3's.

After controlling for various risk factors of cardiovascular disease, investigators found that, compared with women who ate fish less than once a month, women who ate fish one to three times a month had a 7% reduced risk of stroke; women who ate fish once a week had a 22% risk
reduction; women who ate fish two to four times a week had a 27% lower risk; and women who ate fish five or more times a week had a 52% lower risk.

JAMA;285:304-12.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/

Catalyn: The Ultimate Multiple

I have used Catalyn in my practice for 10 years and it's my most recommended multiple vitamin. It's based on a whole food theory of vitamin supplementation: smaller dose, more available to your body, found in nature and not artificial.

The manufactures web site describes Catalyn as a "food-based package of nutrients in the most potent and bioavailable form." If you would like more information visit Standardprocess.com. Catalyn is an inexpensive way to ensure you are getting essential nutrients. - Dr. A

Order 90 Count Bottle, $10.00 from Back Experts

Would You Like 20% More Energy? Exercise.

It seems too good to be true.

Our bodies were made to move. Today we call it exercise; 150 years ago they called it living. Today we can spend hours sitting, fixed in a chair; 150 years ago they were working the land or building a railroad.

If you don't move you will eventually have to deal with aches, pains, arthritis, weight gain, fatigue, sluggish bowel function, lower test scores, depression, osteoporosis, loss of focus, back pain, fibromyalgia, bad attitude, bounced checks, hangnails, yellow teeth, loss of friends, foreclosure on your house, restless legs syndrome, restless arm syndrome, buck teeth, excessive nose hair, you name it!

Ok, I may have exaggerated a bit but you get the point. If you don’t use it you lose it. Last week a nice research study came out of the Journal, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics and reported by Web MD the benefits of low-intensity exercise.

"Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out -- especially when we are already feeling fatigued," researcher Timothy Puetz, PhD, says in a news release. "However, we have shown that regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy, particularly in sedentary individuals."

The study had participants ride a stationary bike for 20 minutes three times a week at a low intensity. After 6 week their energy was up 20%. Not bad.

If you haven’t incorporated exercise into your life yet, start today.

The 100 Year Lifestlye

Surprise! The flu vaccine is ineffective in most cases

Even though the flu vaccine this year cannot protect against two of the three stains that are popping up in the US, the CDC however says we still need it. read more...

Watching Our Children Get Fat

At the Children's Television Conference in 1996, President Bill Clinton underscored America's obsession with television when he noted that "a typical child watches 25,000 hours of television before his or her 18th birthday. Preschoolers watch 28 hours of television a week." If you tend to shrug off this fascination with the tube as harmless, consider a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that examined the potential connection between TV viewing and obesity. Nearly 200 third and fourth-grade students from two public elementary schools participated in the study, in which children from one school received an 18-lesson, six-month classroom curriculum to reduce television, videotape and video game use. The intervention was based solely upon teaching the children to budget their entertainment time and did not include other lifestyle modifications such as exercise. The second school received no curriculum to modify TV viewing and was compared with the initial group after six months. Children from the first school showed significant decreases in body-mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio following the six-month educational program, especially compared to the second school that received no intervention to decrease TV viewing. Children from the first school also reported significant decreases in overall television viewing and meals eaten in front of the television. These findings add to considerable evidence suggesting that television can influence our children, and the news isn't good. As parents, let's take the opportunity to do something about it. It's time to stop watching our children get fat. Robinson TN. Reducing children's television viewing to prevent obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 27, 1999: Vol. 282, No. 16, pp1561-67.

Work Restriction and Back Pain, No Help.

Many doctors advise their patients to restrict work activities in an attempt to get them back to full working capacity faster. However, this practice may not be effective, say researchers.

A new analysis pooled data on employees at a utility company who had back pain-related absence. When researchers compared the 43% of subjects who were given work restrictions with those who were not, they found no statistically significant evidence that work restrictions effect duration of absence or likelihood of relapse.

“No evidence of an association between a prescription of work restriction and early return to work was found,” conclude the study’s authors. “More research is needed to clarify the utility of restricted duty in promoting a positive outcome for work-related low-back pain.”

Spine – April 4, 2003;28:722-8. http://www.spinejournal.com/

Back Pain a Question of Weight?

If you're overweight and suffering from back pain, your doctor will probably suggest that you drop the extra pounds. Losing the weight is probably a good suggestion from an overall health perspective, but it might not be the answer to your back pain, at least not according to a recent study. The potential association between excess weight and back pain was examined in 152 patients attending a hospital-based spinal pain unit. Researchers determined the body mass index (BMI) of each patient after measuring weight and height. (The BMI is essentially a scale that determines "appropriate" weight range by comparing weight and height.) Results showed that BMI had no significant effect on the incidence of back pain, except perhaps in cases involving extremely obese individuals. If you're looking to lose some weight, exercise and dietary adjustments are a good place to start. But if you're suffering from back pain, the chiropractic office is the place to go. In fact, your doctor of chiropractic will be able to manage your back pain and also help you design a sensible program to shed those unwanted pounds. Baker PG, Giles LGF. Is excess weight related to chronic spinal pain? Chiropractic Journal of Australia, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp51-54.

Arterial Disease Linked to Back Pain

Atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries, can lead to high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attack or stroke. Evidence suggests that insufficient blood circulation associated with atherosclerosis may contribute to another serious condition: erosion/degeneration of the discs in your spine.

Speaking of spines, a study published in a journal by the same name investigated whether atherosclerotic lesions in the abdominal aorta were more advanced in patients with low back pain (LBP) vs. those without pain. From 1991-1993, 29 patients (21-58 years of age) were evaluated with a diagnostic procedure called CT discography.

Results showed that 55% of LBP patients had atherosclerotic damage visible on CT scan, compared with only 21% of patients without LBP. This difference was further emphasized when examining a specific group of patients (50 years of age or younger): 48% of LBP patients had aortic damage vs. only 8% of patients without low back pain.

Atherosclerosis is so common that many people assume it's a normal consequence of aging, but don't be fooled: overwhelming research suggests that diet and lifestyle can play a major role in preventing this disease. Your chiropractor can provide you with more information on low back pain, atherosclerosis, and how you can avoid both.

Kurunlahti M, Tervonen O, Vanharanta H, et al. Association of atherosclerosis with
low back pain and the degree of disc degeneration. Spine, Vol. 24, No. 20, pp2080-84.

Anger Predicts Coronary Artery Disease

It's never healthy to keep your stress bottled up inside, but all the evidence suggests that a slow simmer is almost always safer than a raging boil. Anger, especially anger manifested in bouts of uncontrollable rage or fury, can do serious damage - and not just to household items or innocent bystanders.

The results of a study involving 12,986 men and women (45-64 years old at baseline) provide evidence that anger may predict coronary heart disease (CHD). As part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, participants completed a trait anger scale assessing relative anger/rage; clinical examinations at baseline and follow-up assessed the incidence CHD and associated heart conditions.

High levels of anger contributed to an increased risk of CHD and other coronary events, including acute myocardial infarction (MI) and fatal CHD. Specifically, the investigators noted a three times greater risk for people with the greatest difficulty controlling their anger compared to those with the least difficulty.

The moral to this story: We all get frustrated and angry sometimes, but how we release or "control" our anger can make a big difference. It might mean the difference in staying healthy instead of suffering from heart disease. For more information, talk to your doctor.

Reference: Williams JE, Paton CC, Siegler IC, et al. Anger proneness predicts coronary heart disease risk: prospective analysis from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Circulation: Vol. 101, pp2034-39.

The Flu and The Flu Vaccine

What is the flu? Influenza is a respiratory infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough that lasts a week or more. The flu can be deadly for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems or who are suffering from diabetes, kidney dysfunction and heart disease. Each year about 20,000 Americans, mostly in these high risk groups, reportedly die from flu complications such as pneumonia. What is the flu vaccine? The flu vaccine is prepared from the fluids of chick embryos inoculated with a specific type(s) of influenza virus. The strains of flu virus in the vaccine are inactivated with formaldehyde and preserved with thimerosal, which is a mercury derivative. Every year, federal health agency officials try to guess which three flu strains are most likely to be prevalent in the U.S. the following year to determine which strains will be included in next year's flu vaccine. If they guess right, the vaccine is thought to be 70 to 80 percent effective in temporarily preventing the flu of the season in healthy persons less than 65 years old (the efficacy rate drops to 30 to 40% in those over 65 years old but the vaccine is thought to be 50 to 60% effective in preventing hospitalization and pneumonia and 80% effective in preventing death from the flu in the over 65 age group). However, sometimes health officials do not correctly predict which flu strains will be most prevalent and the vaccine's effectiveness is much lower for that year. Does the flu vaccine protect against all throat, respiratory, gastrointestinal and ear infections? The flu vaccine only protects against the three specific viral strains which are included in any given year's flu vaccine. Throat, respiratory, gastrointestinal and ear infections caused by bacteria or other kinds of viruses are not prevented by getting an annual flu shot. Why do doctors say I have to get a flu vaccine every year? Like all vaccines, the flu vaccine only gives a temporary immunity to the virus strains or closely related virus strains contained in the vaccine. The only way to get natural and permanent immunity to a strain of flu is to recover naturally from the flu. Natural immunity to a particular strain of flu can be protective if that strain or closely related strains come around again in the future. However, because the vaccine only provides a 70 to 80 percent chance of temporary immunity to selected strains and those strains may or may not be prevalent each year, doctors say you have to get a flu shot every year. Are there reactions to the flu vaccine? The most common reactions, which begin with 12 hours of vaccination and can last several days are: fever, fatigue, painful joints and headache. The most serious reaction that has been associated with flu vaccine is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) which occurs most often within two to four weeks of vaccination. GBS is an immune mediated nerve disorder characterized by muscle weakness, unsteady gait, numbness, tingling, pain and sometimes paralysis of one or more limbs or the face. Recovery lasts several months and can include residual disability. Less than 5 percent of GBS cases end in death. What are contraindications to the flu vaccine? Among high risk factors listed by the CDC and the vaccine manufacturers are anyone who: (1) is sick with a fever; (2) has an impaired immune system; (2) has an egg allergy; (3) has a mercury allergy; (4) has a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome. In years past, pregnancy was also a contraindication to flu vaccine but, today, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends flu vaccine for women more than 14 weeks pregnant. The package inserts published by the flu vaccine manufacturers state that "Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with influenza virus vaccine. It is also not known whether influenza virus vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.Although animal reproductive studies have not been conducted, the prescribing health care provider should be aware of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices The ACIP states that if used during pregnancy, administration of influenza virus vaccine after 14 weeks of gestation may be preferable to avoid coincidental association of the vaccine with early pregnancy loss." Is Flu Vaccine Recommended for Children? The flu vaccine has never been recommended for healthy children. However, in the past few years there have been indications that health officials are soon going to recommend flu vaccine for all children. A nasal flu vaccine is scheduled to be on the market in late 2000 and publicity promoting this vaccine has centered on its potential use in children. The current injectable flu vaccine contains mercury as a preservative. In the summer of 1999, the FDA, CDC and EPA directed the vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury as a preservative in childhood vaccines. Mercury is a known neuro-toxin and American babies under six months of age are currently exposed to mercury in childhood vaccines that exceed EPA safety standards. One consideration with the mass use of flu vaccine in healthy children is the removal of natural antibodies to flu which are obtained from natural infection. The question of whether it is better for healthy children, who rarely suffer complications from flu, to get the flu and develop permanent immunity to that flu strain or it is better for children to get vaccinated every year to try to suppress all flu infection in early childhood is a question that has yet to be adequately answered by medical science. What should I do? Become educated about the flu and its benefits and risks and the vaccine and its benefits and risks and make an informed decision after consulting multiple sources of information and discussing your questions with one or more health professionals. for more information contact http://909shot.com/

Adopting a Dog Lowers Blood Pressure

Another study shows that dogs may very well be man,s best friends. According to the report, owning a dog may prevent hypertension.

As part of the analysis, investigators monitored the blood pressures and stress responses of 60 hypertensive adults who were caring for brain-injured spouses. Half of the subjects adopted dogs. After six months, dog-owners exhibited significantly lower blood pressure rises in response to stress, compared with those who did not own dogs.

Society for Psychophysiological Research October 19, 2000.
http://liberty.uc.wlu.edu/~spr/

Hostility Linked to Heart Disease?

Anger and hostility aren't the same, although they often conjure up one familiar, unpleasant image. Picture the face of the driver you've accidentally cut offon the freeway - very angry, very hostile. While anger is a feeling or emotion,hostility is actually a character and personality trait involving anger, cynicism,mistrust of others, and overt and repressed aggression.

Hostility (and anger) do little to contribute to health and wellness, but increasing evidence suggests that the opposite mechanism may take effect. Case in point comes from a study in the May 17, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Hostility questionnaires administered to 374 men and women (18-30 years old at baseline) provided data on hostility (over a five-year period), and CT scans taken at year 10 examinations assessed the presence of detectable coronary artery calcification - heart disease.

Subjects with above-average hostility scores had more than two times the risk of coronary artery damage compared to less hostile subjects, and five-year changes in hostility were also related with incidence of the disease. The authors conclude that "a high hostility level may predispose young adults to coronary artery calcification."

So don't get mad, get healthy! Your doctor can tell you more about the risk factors for heart disease and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Iribarren C, Sidney S, Bild DE, et al. Association of hostility with coronary

artery calcification in young adults. Journal of the American Medical Association,
May 17, 2000: Vol. 283, No. 19, pp2546-51.

High Blood Pressure Linked to Bone Loss?

The authors in a study that appeared in the September 18th issue of the Lancet note that bone loss, often related to calcium deficiencies, is a primary cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and the elderly, and that problems with our ability to metabolize calcium has been linked to high blood pressure. They use this background data to explore the potential relationship between bone loss and high blood pressure in 3,676 elderly Caucasian women. By comparing initial measurements of blood pressure and bone mineral density (BMD) with BMD measurements taken 3-5 years later, the authors discovered that rates of bone loss increased with increasing blood pressure. These findings were maintained even after taking other variables into consideration, including age, weight, smoking and regular use of hormone replacement therapy (all of which can influence bone loss). Ask your chiropractor for more information on keeping your blood pressure low, your bone density high, and maintaining your health and wellness for a lifetime! Cappuccio FP, Meilahn E, Zmuda JM, et al. High blood pressure and bone mineral loss in elderly white women: a prospective study. The Lancet, Vol. 354, pp971-75.

"Bridge Night" May Prevent Disease

[This study shows how important the nervous system is to immune system function - Dr. Anderson]

The card game bridge is a favorite pastime of adults throughout the world. Now, research presented Tuesday at the Society for Neurosciences annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana indicates that playing the game may bolster player's immune systems.

Twelve elderly women played contract bridge for one and a half hours. Compared with blood samples taken before play, samples taken after play contained significantly more CD4-positive T-lymphocytes, which are associated with disease prevention. Researchers speculate that bridge
activates the dosolateral cortex of the brain, which has been shown to stimulate immune cell production.

Society for Neuroscience.

Body Fat and Breast Cancer

A number of factors have been implicated as substantial risk factors for breast cancer, including family history of the disease and early onset of menstruation. Recent research also hints at a link between hormone replacement and breast cancer (See "Hormone Therapy May Contribute to Breast Cancer" in the April 2000 issue of To Your Health).

A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology reveals another possible contributor to this devastating disease: body fat distribution. As part of the Nurses' Health Study (1986-1994), 47,382 U.S. registered nurses reported their waist and hip circumferences at entrance and were monitored for the next eight years for incidence of breast cancer.

Increasing waist circumference was significantly related to breast cancer in postmenopausal, but not premenopausal, women. This association was maintained even when considering overall obesity and other breast cancer risk factors, and was even stronger among women who had never received hormone replacement therapy. Consult with a health care professional to learn how to minimize your risk of developing breast cancer.

Huang Z, Willett WC, Colditz GA. Waist circumference, waist:hip ratio, and risk of breast cancer in the Nurses' Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, Dec. 1999: Vol. 150, No. 12, pp1316-24.

Study says chiropractors don’t raise stroke risk

Canadian researchers have found no evidence of increased risk of vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke associated with chiropractic care compared to getting care from a family medical doctor. Their results were published in the Spine (Vol. 33, No. 48).

As reported in The Globe and Mail, the researchers said the public perception of an increased is occurs because patients tend to seek care when they are having neck pain or headache. In other words, patients with these symptoms who have a stroke have already damaged the artery before seeking and then the stroke occurred after the visit.

Source: The Globe and Mail, www.theglobeandmail.com; “Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care,” Spine (Vol. 33, No. 48).

Chiropractic for PMS

No one's completely certain what causes premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but there's no denying the pain and distress millions of women suffer 7-10 days before menstruation every month. Different doctors have different recommendations for treating PMS, and there's one perspective you might be hearing more about soon -- Chiropractic.

A study involving 84 subjects (54 with diagnosed PMS and 30 without) evaluated the potential for chiropractic to help relieve PMS symptoms. Complete chiropractic examinations revealed that the PMS group was more likely to show signs of spinal problems (i.e., spinal tenderness, muscle weakness, neck disability, etc.) than the non-PMS group.

The study authors suggest that chiropractic care to correct these spinal problems may be an effective way to reduce some of the symptoms of PMS. If you're still searching for relief from the pain and frustration of premenstrual syndrome, make an appointment with your local chiropractor. A complete spinal examination could be an important step toward finding a solution.

Walsh MJ, Polus BI. The frequency of positive common clinical
findings in a sample of premenstrual syndrome sufferers. Journal of
Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 22, No.
4, pp216-220.

Caffeine May Trigger Most Migraines

Linda M. Selwa, MD and colleagues at the University of Michigan Health System report that a dramatic percent of migraine headaches may be triggered by drug-rebound from caffeine.

“Many of my patients have told me stories about needing caffeine when they feel a headache coming on, or having headaches on the weekends when they haven’t had their usual work-day amount of caffeine,”
explains Dr. Selwa.

“In fact, caffeine is a key ingredient in almost all of the over-the-counter migraine medications. That’s because caffeine is useful in stopping a headache once it starts,” she continues. “The unfortunate thing is that, in patients who use caffeine chronically, they’re much more likely to get a migraine as the caffeine begins to
wear off.”

Participants in Dr. Selwa’s study are instructed to discontinue caffeine use for one month.

“In several patients, we’ve been able to get them off their migraine medications as long as they stay away from caffeine,” comments Dr. Selwa.

“Migraines are a significant cause of disability in this country, resulting in an estimated $13 billion dollars in lost work hours each year,” she notes.

University of Michigan – April 4, 2003.

Another Study Shows Back Belts Don't Prevent Low Back Pain

[Note: Using a Low Back support does two things, (1) it gives a false sense of security and (2) it allows you to lift more that you back is made to and (3) compromises your low back muscles to function properly. It is like wearing a cast on your back. The muscles will eventually wither and become weaker. This sets you up for even more injury. The take home message: Don use back supports. - Dr. A.]

The use of back belts for preventing low-back pain (LBP) is a point of hot debate. Now a report in today's Journal of the American Medical Association supports what many previous studies have found: back belts don't avert LBP.

In the largest prospective cohort study of back belt use to date, 6,311 newly-hired material-handling workers were followed for six months. Investigators reviewed injury claims and interviewed the subjects about their back-pain experience at the study's onset, and at six-month follow-up.

Findings showed that "neither frequent back belt use nor a belt-requirement store policy was significantly associated with back injury claim rates or self-reported back pain.

JAMA ;284:2727-32.

Chiropractic Gains Popularity with Seniors

The use of chiropractic is rocketing among older adults. According to a just-published survey of 2,055 Americans age 65 or older, 20% have visited an alternative care practitioner during the previous year. Most of these visits were to doctors of chiropractic. A total of 57% of subjects who used alternative therapies did not tell their medical provider that they had used such therapies.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2000;48:1560-1565.
http://www.amgeriatrics.com/

Chiropractic Gains Popularity with Seniors

The use of chiropractic is rocketing among older adults. According to a just-published survey of 2,055 Americans age 65 or older, 20% have visited an alternative care practitioner during the previous year. Most of these visits were to doctors of chiropractic. A total of 57% of subjects who used alternative therapies did not tell their medical provider that they had used such therapies.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2000;48:1560-1565.
http://www.amgeriatrics.com/

A Healthy Heart May be A Laugh Away

Here,s a fun way to help patients prevent heart disease: tell them a joke. A life abundant with chuckles may ward off cardiovascular disorders, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association.

When confronted with a variety of humorous situations, a cohort of 150 people with heart disease were 40% less likely to laugh, compared to a group of 150 of their peers without heart disease.

"The old saying that laughter is the best medicine, definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart, noted Michael Miller, MD, FACC, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack, "We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously, Dr. Miller explained. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat
right and laugh a few times a day.

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/

Eat Health Workshop: January 31, 2007

I'm excited to announce our workshop later this month on Smart Eating. The focus wil be how food can increase your energy and give you a boost allowing you to exercise easier and

Exercise: The First Step toward Lifelong Health

When someone mentions the word "exercise," what's the first thought that jumps into your head? For many, exercise means discomfort -- hours spent at the gym, fighting through the tan, lean bodies to lift weights or pedal away on an uncomfortable exercycle. Fortunately, exercise comes in many forms, and almost all of them help us stay healthy. Physical activity reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and many other serious health problems, and evidence suggests that something as simple as walking may be just as effective as vigorous exercise. Researchers compared walking, vigorous exercise and total physical activity with the incidence of coronary artery events (heart attack or death from heart disease) in 72,488 healthy female nurses. Data collected over the eight-year study revealed that three hours of brisk walking per week comparable to 1.5 hours of jogging, cycling, heavy gardening or heavy housework) in reducing the risk of coronary events. So don't get overwhelmed by exercise, embrace it! You don't need to slave away in the gym to stay healthy. A brisk walk might be all it takes to get you started on the road to lifelong health. For a complete evaluation of exercise and nutritional guidelines specific to your needs, talk to your chiropractor. Manson JE, Hu FB, Rich-Edwards JW, et al. A prospective study of walking as compared with vigorous exercise in the prevention of coronary heart disease in women. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 341, No. 9, pp650-58.

Talk with Your Chiropractor about Stress

Whether you're fighting through traffic, paying the monthly bills, dealing with the noisy next-door neighbor or struggling with illness or disease, it can all add up to a considerable amount of stress. Stress is basically what we feel whenever we are faced with a difficult, unpleasant or challenging situation, and the way we deal with all this stress can substantially influence our overall health and well-being.

If stress is affecting your life, it's time to make an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic. Here's why: A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) examined the contribution of stress as a potential disease trigger among 138 chiropractic patients attending one of 10 chiropractic clinics. Patients completed two questionnaires that asked about how their current stress affected their ability to function emotionally, mentally and physically.

Results showed that nearly one in three patients viewed their lives as moderately to severely stressful, and more than 50% felt that stress had a moderate or severe impact on their current health problem. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of the patients said that it would be helpful if their chiropractic care included strategies to help them cope with stress.

Chiropractic care might be just what you need to help relieve some of that stress in your life. And remember, evidence suggests that low back pain, a condition that chiropractors are experts at managing, may be caused or worsened by stress. So talk to your chiropractor about stress and about all of your health care needs. Trust and communication are important in any relationship, but perhaps no more so than between patient and doctor. After all, you're placing your health and wellness in their hands.

Jamison J. Stress: the chiropractic patient's self-perceptions. Journal of Manipulative
and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 22, No. 6, pp395-98.

Study Looks at Low Back Pain in Kids

What factors predict whether or not a child will suffer from low-back pain (LBP)? To find out, researchers tracked 1,046 youths, aged 11 to 14 years, for 1 year. All subjects were free of LBP at the study’s onset.

Youngsters were more likely to develop LBP if they had trouble relating to peers and teachers, especially conduct problems. Children who reported a high number of other pain disorders at baseline — such as stomachache, headache and sore throat — were also at an elevated risk of LBP.

“In contrast, we have been unable to demonstrate a strong association between daily mechanical load (schoolbag weight) and the short-term risk of new-onset LBP,” note the study’s authors.

Pediatrics – April 9, 2003;111:822-8. http://www.pediatrics.org/

Bed Rest for Aches and Pains? Not an Effective Prescription

Bed rest has been recommended for many conditions, including low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis. The idea of prescribing bed rest for illness perhaps stemmed from a quote by the "father of medicine," Hippocrates: "In every movement of the body, whenever one begins to endure pain, it will be relieved by rest."

Hippocrates' advice was proffered in the 4th century B.C., but the practice of prescribing bed rest remains, despite little evidence of its effectiveness. In a review published in the journal Lancet, authors evaluated 39 different studies on bed rest prescribed for 15 different conditions, involving a total of 5,777 patients.

Results of the analysis revealed that bed rest was not an effective treatment recommendation. In 24 trials investigating bed rest following a medical procedure, no patients improved significantly and eight worsened significantly. And in 15 trials investigating bed rest as a primary treatment, no patients improved significantly, while nine worsened significantly.

Healing involves much more than rest, a fact which this study seems to emphasize but which many doctors seem to ignore. Don't settle for quick medical advice (pills, bed rest, etc.) that may end up doing more harm than good, or no good at all. Consult with your doctor of chiropractic for information on active, noninvasive approaches to managing a variety of health problems.

Allen C, Glasziou P, Del Mar C. Bed rest: a potentially harmful treatment needing more careful evaluation. Lancet 1999: Vol. 354, pp1229-33.

Adjustments Affect Nervous System, Study Says

Chiropractors are most concerned about the function of the nervous system. Adjusting the spine has a significant impact on the brain. Here is another study indicates that vertebral subluxations affect the nervous system. Specifically, spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) appears to activate descending inhibitory pathways from the periaqueductal gray area of the midbrain (dPAG), according to a report published in the current issue of Manual Medicine.

As part of the experiment, 30 patients with middle or lower cervical pain underwent SMT.

Results showed that SMT "produced a hypoalgesic effect as revealed by increased pressure pain thresholds on the side of treatment and decreased resting visual analogue scale scores. The treatment technique also produced a sympathoexcitatory effect with an increase in skin conductance and a decrease in skin temperature. There was a decrease in superficial neck flexor muscle activity at the lower levels of a staged cranio-cervical flexion test."

"The combination of all findings would support the proposal that SMT may, at least initially, exert part of its influence via activation of the PAG," conclude the study’s authors.

Manual Therapy – May 2001;6:72-81.

Chiropractic Helps Heal Ankle Sprains

According to a study by Justin Edward Pellow, DC and James W. Brantingham, DC, adjustments to the ankle facilitate healing of subacute and chronic grade I and grade II inversion sprains.

The investigators evaluated 30 patients with subacute and chronic grade I and grade II ankle inversion sprains. Subjects were divided into two cohorts. Half of the patients received mortise separation adjustments to the ankle joint, while half received a placebo treatment (five minutes of ultrasound therapy with the ultrasound turned off). Treatment lasted four weeks and consisted of up to eight visits.

Compared with the placebo group, subjects who underwent adjustments enjoyed significantly more improvement in measures of pain reduction, ankle range of motion and ankle function.

JMPT ­ January 2001;24:17-24. http://www.harcourthealth.com/

Comparison of Hours of Basic Sciences Education in Medical and Chiropractic Schools

Subject	Chiropractic Schools		Medical Schools
	Hours	% of Total	Hours	% of Total
Anatomy	570	40	368	31
Biochemistry	150	11	120	10
Microbiology	120	8	120	10
Public Health	70	5	289	24
Physiology	305	21	142	12
Pathology	205	14	162	14
Total Hours	1,420	100	1,200	100

Source: Center for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, DC. Personal communication of 1995 unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, PhD.

Your Posture is your health

"Posture and normal physiology and function are interrelated. Abnormal posture is evident in patients with chronic pain-related conditions including backache, earache, and stress-related illnesses." AJPM 1994;4:36-39

In this article from the January 1994 issue of the American Journal of Pain Management, the authors state that the significant influence of posture on health is not addressed by most physicians. I would add, that unfortunately, postural correction is not part of main stream chiropractic practice as yet either. However, as the authors go on to state, "posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture."

Obviously, the proper assessment, analysis, and if possible correction of abnormal posture is an extremely important component of modern health care.

Posture Affects Nerve Function in Heart Patients

A study reveals that posture affects sympathetic nervous modulation in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Investigators analyzed heart rate variability and plasma norepinephrine concentrations in 12 patients with CHF in three recumbent positions: right lateral decubitus, left lateral decubitus and supine. Findings showed that the same position preferred by patients, the right lateral decubitus position, was also the position that most attenuated sympathetic nervous modulation.

The Lancet November 25, 2000;356.

Study Looks at Low-Carb Diets

The first large review study of low-carbohydrate diets reveals that people on diets of 60 or fewer grams of carbohydrates a day (a threshold used in some of the popular low-carbohydrate diets) did lose weight. But the weight loss was associated with restriction of caloric intake and longer diet duration, not with reduced carbohydrate intake.

“Low-carbohydrate diets have been extremely popular as of late, and the lay press has suggested they’re a safe and effective means of weight loss,” said lead author Dena Bravata, MD. “While these diets are effective in the short term, weight loss results from reduced calories, not carbohydrate restriction.”

“The findings suggest that if you want to lose weight, you should eat fewer calories and do so over a long time period” stressed Dr. Bravata.

As part of the analysis, investigators from Stanford University Medical Center and Yale University reviewed a total of 107 diet studies, which involved 3,268 people from around the world.

JAMA – April 9, 2003;289:1837-50. http://jama.ama-assn.org/

MS Patients Turn to Chiropractic

Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) report benefiting from holistic therapies including chiropractic, according to researchers at the New Jersey Medical School in Newark.

Investigators pooled survey data on 3,140 adults with MS. Findings disclosed that 57.1% of respondents had tried at least one complementary modality. The longer subjects suffered from MS, the more likely they were to report less satisfaction with traditional medical care and greater success with complementary approaches.

Chiropractic was the second most commonly employed holistic therapy (used by 25.5% of subjects) after herbal therapy (used by 26.6% of subjects). A total of 23.3% had tried massage and 19.9% had experimented with acupuncture. Women were 25% more likely than men — and whites were 30% more likely than non-whites — to use alternative modalities.

Clinical Rehabilitation – March 2003;17:181-91. http://www.ingentaselect.com/

On the Safety of the Chiropractic Adjustment

The term "chiropractic" comes from the Greek word "Chiropraktikos," meaning "effective treatment by hand." Effective treatment by hand is exactly what chiropractors do, delivering gentle adjustments to the spine and musculoskeletal system to maximize wellness and prevent dysfunction.

Complications resulting from any procedure are always unfortunate, regardless of the health care professional administering care. While a certain degree of risk accompanies all health interventions, specific concerns have been raised over the safety of spinal manipulation.

But have no fear: As a study in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia professes, the chiropractic adjustment is "one of the most conservative, least invasive and safest of procedures within the health care professions." The study compared complication rates, specifically cerebrovascular accidents(CVAs)and/or death attributable to spinal manipulation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and numerous medical procedures. The author emphasizes that the potential risk of "catastrophic" side-effects from spinal manipulation is substantially lower than most common medical procedures.

If you're interested in safe conservative care for yourself and your loved ones, schedule an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic. For more information on chiropractic, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/find/whatis.html

Rome PL. Perspectives: an overview of comparative considerations of cerebrovascular accidents. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, Sept. 1999: Vol. 29, No. 3, pp87-102.

Arthritis Patients Choose Chiropractic

Arthritis is the name given to more than 100 different diseases that cause pain, swelling, and limited movement in joints and connective tissue. One out of every six Americans suffers from some form of arthritis, and unfortunately, the condition can last a lifetime. In 1997, Americans made an estimated 629 million visits to practitioners of "complementary and alternative medicine" (CAM), compared with just 388 million visits to primary care physicians that same year. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that many arthritis patients used CAM, and that chiropractic was the most frequently used type of care. Even more significantly, chiropractic was also near the top of the list in terms of the number of patients who regularly used CAM, and the number of patients who found CAM helpful for their condition. Don't let arthritis get the best of you. If you or someone you know suffers from the daily pain and frustration of arthritis, schedule an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic. Rao JK, Mihaliak K, Kroenke K, et al. Use of complementary therapies for arthritis among patients of rheumatologists. Annals of Internal Medicine, Sept. 1999: Vol. 131, No. 6, pp409-16.