Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Cognitive Disorders.
Seniors (age 85 and older) were most likely to report one or more cognitive disorders, such as senility or dementia (18.4%) compared to seniors ages 75-84 (6%) and seniors ages 65-74 (1.1%). The average annual health care expense for seniors reporting one or more cognitive disorders totaled $15,549 a year, compared to $9,019 for seniors not reporting any cognitive disorders.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Health Alert: A Bad Fish Story.
Mercury contamination, a worldwide environmental problem, has been called "public enemy No. 1" in California's San Francisco Bay. Mercury mining and gold recovery in the mid-1800s, combined with present day oil refineries, chemical manufacturing plants and wastewater treatment plants have contributed enough mercury to threaten wildlife and prompt a fish consumption advisory in the Bay Area. Mercury is a naturally occurring element, but some 2,000 tons of it enter the global environment each year from human-generated sources. A small portion of mercury consumed by microorganisms converts to methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish and the animals - and people - who eat them. Health effects include damage to the central nervous system, heart and immune system.
Environmental Science & Technology, January 2011

Diet: Depressed Over Trans Fats.
Consumption of trans fats, present in fast foods and mass-produced foods like pastries, may raise the risk of depression. A diet rich in mono- and polyunsaturated fats and olive oil appears to have a slight protective effect. People who consumed a high level of trans fats had a 48% higher risk of developing depression and the more trans fats consumed, the higher the risk.
Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: The SUN Project", Jan 2011

Exercise: Eat Right!
Because 33% of children and 66% of adults in the US are overweight or obese, the new "Dietary Guidelines for Americans," places stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity. Good nutrition is an integral component of successful aging, the benefits of a healthy diet and regular physical activity may include a more robust immune system, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, sharper mental acuity, and better management of chronic health problems.
The Gerontological Society of America, February 2011

Chiropractic: Fun Fact!
Humans have a 100 trillion cells!
Anatomy & Physiology, Guyton

Wellness/Prevention: Cool Down, Lose Weight.
Warmer winter temperatures in your home could be a factor in the current obesity epidemic. Increased time spent indoors, widespread access to central heating and air conditioning, and increased expectations of thermal comfort all contribute to restricting the range of temperatures we experience in daily life and reduce the time our bodies spend under mild thermal stress - meaning we're burning less energy.
Obesity Reviews, January 2011

Win a 60" Flat Screen TV

We are very happy that so many of you have referred your friends and family to our office. I consider that the most important sign that we are providing the best quality of care and the best service available in our industry. Because we get so many referrals we decided to have a "Referral Contest" which will run for 6 weeks, beginning in April. The winner of the contest will receive a 60" Flat Screen HDTV!!!

How do you qualify? We have a system we created to make it fun AND to reward you more for each person you refer in. It goes like this - when you refer in 1 friend you will get 1 entry card to write your name on and place it our "Change The World" Raffle Drum. IT GETS BETTER - If you refer in 2 friends you will get an additional 5 entries. BUT THERE'S MORE - If you refer in 3 or more people you will get 10 entries per person!!

I know you all have people in your life who are constantly in pain or who have pain that won't go away. These people need our help. Take a minute to think of 5 or more people you know who should be taking better care of yourself and tell them that this is the month to finally start feeling good again. It doesn't matter if they have herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, fibromyalgia, low back pain, migraine headaches or shoulder pain .... these are people who can be helped!! Refer them in THIS MONTH and you could enjoy a HUGE, BEAUTIFUL, NEW Television just for helping them out. Good Luck - and remember, the more friends who come in THE MORE YOU STAND TO WIN!! Have fun.

Watching your back,
Dr. Brad
201-651-9100

New Expanded Hours for Chiropractic

While our office is very busy, we are still attempting to accept more new patients and help more people to feel better - JUST LIKE YOU. To that end, we have expanded our chiropractic treatment hours to align more effectively with our patients needs for chiropractic and physical therapy. Beginning today, Wednesday, March 23rd, our chiropractic treatment hours will change to the following M/W/F 8:30AM to 1PM & 2PM to Closing. Tuesday hours will remain unchanged from 3-6PM (2-7 for Physical therapy). This is an increase of 7 1/2 hours over our current hours of treatment for our patients. By doing this, we can accomplish TWO VERY IMPORTANT GOALS: first, we are now open to see more patients BEFORE they go to work and AT LUNCH TIME by aligning the chiropractic and physical therapy hours. Second, we can see more new patients.

My staff and I are always attempting to improve our customer service and satisfaction. Being MORE CONVENIENT is a major way to accomplish that goal.

Watching your back, Dr. Brad 201-651-9100

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Lets Talk.
People are attracted to, date, and marry people who resemble themselves in terms of personality, values, and physical appearance. A new study finds people who speak in similar styles are more compatible. The study focused on words called "function words," words that show how those words relate (words like the, a, be, anything, that, will, him, and and). How we use these words constitutes our writing and speaking style. Pairs of people whose language style matching scores were above average were almost four times as likely to want future contact as pairs whose speaking styles were out of sync. 80% of the couples whose writing style matched were still dating three months later, compared with 54% of the couples who didn't match.
Psychological Science, January 2011

Health Alert: Are We Bugged?
Superbugs are not just a problem in hospitals, they could also come from animal farms. Insects could be responsible for spreading antibiotic resistant bacteria from pigs to humans. Widespread use of antibiotics in confined swine production is likely to increase the selection and evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. While farm pigs continue to share their homes with insects, the risk of these resistant strains being transferred to humans via cockroaches and flies is an ever-present possibility.
BMC Microbiology, January 2011

Diet: Diabetes.
33% of adults in the US (79 million people) have pre-diabetes and 26 million have diabetes. Prediabetes exists when blood sugar levels are too high, but not enough for a diagnosis of diabetes to be reached. Those with prediabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes, as well as stroke and heart disease.
CDC, January 2011

Exercise: Stretch The Other Side?
To properly strengthen the muscles of your upper back, which help pull your shoulders and head back for better posture, you should stretch your chest muscles first. Most people have overly contracting chest muscles that inhibit or turn off the upper back muscles. If you stretch the chest first, this will allow the upper back muscles to fire at a higher rate. Try it.

Chiropractic: Another Analogy.
"Not following through with maintenance care is like wearing braces for 3 years and not wearing the retainer." The idea of wellness/maintenance chiropractic care is simple: maintain proper spinal/joint motion and decrease the risk of muscles tightening and the spine degenerating.

Wellness/Prevention: Try Leisure Instead Of Medicine.
"Play" or leisure is an important part of a person's health. It renews our spirit, gives us clarity of thought, life satisfaction and benefits blood pressure. For our physical, mental, spiritual and cognitive health, "leisure time should be a necessity, not a luxury." Leisure is anything that brings personal enjoyment to individuals and allows them to recharge. It can include: puzzles, a walk, a sport etc., as long as it fits this criteria: the activity must be freely chosen; must provide satisfaction and adventure; must arouse interest; must require a commitment; must serve as a sense of separation or escape; and most important, must be pleasurable.
Canisius College, Feb 2011

The Importance of Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It's more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

  -- Charles Swindoll

Watching your back, Dr. Brad 201-651-9100

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Who Has The Highest Stress Levels?
A workplace's key employees may be at the greatest risk of experiencing high stress levels. 18% reported their job was "highly stressful." The odds of having high stress were greater if workers were managers or professionals, if they thought their poor job performance could negatively affect others, or if they worked long or variable hours. If workers felt their poor job performance could result in any physical injury, damage to their company's equipment or reputation, or a financial loss, they were twice as likely to report high stress. Having a worksite far from their home, or having to entertain or travel for their jobs also increased the odds of being stressed, as did variable hours such as being on call, doing shift work or having a compressed work week. Chronic stress can lead to burnout, and can worsen existing mental health problems or physical disability.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, January 2011

Health Alert: Medication Errors For Kids?
Preparing small doses of medication from syringes may be inaccurate and can result in crucial dosing errors for infants and children. Because babies and young children require small doses of drugs, these are often prepared from stock of less than 0.1 mL. Current equipment does not permit the accurate measurement of volumes less than 0.1 mL. 7.4% of preparations for children needed less than 0.1 mL of stock solution and 17.5% needed preparations from less than 0.2 mL. Medications most commonly requiring small doses include potent narcotics and sedatives such as morphine, lorazepam and fentanyl as well as immunosuppressants.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, January 2011

Diet: Foods Preferred By Preschool Kids.
Preschoolers (ages 3-5) prefer salt, sugar and fat, and these children equate their taste preferences to brand-name fast-food and soda products. Children even turn to condiments to add these flavors -- and with them calories -- to be sure the foods they eat match their taste preferences.
Appetite, January 2011

Exercise: Stretch Before Sit-ups?
To properly strengthen abdominal muscles, stretch your low back muscles first. Most people have overly contracting low back muscles that inhibit or turn off the abdominals. Stretching the low back first will allow the abdominals to fire at a higher rate. Try it.

Chiropractic: Starting Over, Fun Fact!
The human body is in a constant state of breakdown and repair, your cells are constantly replaced by new cells. (Lung tissue becoming healthy again after quitting smoking is a good example.)
Anatomy & Physiology, Guyton

Wellness/Prevention: Another Reason Not To Smoke.
Women who smoke regularly before menopause have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. The risk was also greater if the woman smoked for longer, started at an earlier age, and consumed many cigarettes each day. Breast cancer is the most common worldwide female cancer.
Archives of Internal Medicine, 2011

2,000 Year Old Story Helps Patients Relieve Pain

Dear Patients and Friends,

If you would like to know how a 2,000 year old story is helping patients relieve their pain - you will love this.

Here is why…

I'm sure you've heard of Aesop's fables. But, here's something interesting you might not know. Aesop was a Greek citizen who lived approximately 2,000 years ago and wrote, considered by some experts, among the first printed works in the vernacular European language. Probably the most amazing thing is that his fables hold true today just as much as they did 2,000 years ago. For example... check out this great fable entitled: "The Lion and The Eagle."

"AN EAGLE stayed his flight and entreated a Lion to make an alliance with him to their mutual advantage. The Lion replied, 'I have no objection, but you must excuse me for requiring you to find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust anyone as a friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he pleases?'"

And, of course, every Aesop's fable comes with a moral. And the moral to this fable is: Try before you trust.

So, what does this have to do with us? Well, our entire practice is based on the principle of, "try before you trust." That means, everyone should be able to check out our practice before committing to anything. This has worked out great because so many patients have started care and referred family members because they know they will not be pushed into any long-term treatment plan they may not want. In other words, patients love telling others because they know whoever they send will be treated like they are a family member.

So, we would like to thank you for trying us before you trusted. And also thank you for telling others about our practice. Helping someone get out of pain is one of the best things you can ever do for them - and they will remember you for the rest of their lives.

Wouldn't it be nice if all businesses allowed you to try before you trust?

And if there is anything we can do to help, just give us a call at (201) 651-9100.

Sincerely,
Dr. Brad
201-651-9100

P.S. We are always looking for ways to make our practice better and serve our patients more. If you have any suggestions, please give us a call and tell us what's on your mind. We love hearing from patients - after all it's "your" practice too. :-)

What Really Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash is a non-medical term for a condition that occurs when the neck and head move rapidly forwards and backwards or, sideways, at a speed so fast our neck muscles are unable to stop the movement from happening. This sudden force results in the normal range of motion being exceeded and causes injury to the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) of the neck. Classically, whiplash is associated with car accidents or, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) but can also be caused by other injuries such as a fall on the ice and banging the head, sports injuries, as well as being assaulted, including "shaken baby syndrome."

The History Of Whiplash. The term "Whiplash" was first coined in 1928 when pilots were injured by landing airplanes on air craft carriers in the ocean. Their heads were snapped forwards and back as they came to a sudden stop. There are many synonyms for the term "whiplash" including, but not limited to, cervical hyperextension injury, acceleration-deceleration syndrome, cervical sprain (meaning ligament injury) and cervical strain (meaning muscle / tendon injury). In spite of this, the term "whiplash" has continued to be used usually in reference to MVCs.

Why Whiplash Occurs. As noted previously, we cannot voluntarily stop our head from moving beyond the normal range of motion as it takes only about 500 milliseconds for whiplash to occur during a MVC, and we cannot voluntarily contract our neck muscles in less than 800-1000 msec. The confusing part about whiplash is that it can occur in low speed collisions such as 5-10 mph, sometimes more often than at speeds of 20 mph or more. The reason for this has to do with the vehicle absorbing the energy of the collision. At lower speeds, there is less crushing of the metal (less damage to the vehicle) and therefore, less of the energy from the collision is absorbed. The energy from the impact is then transferred to the contents inside the vehicle (that is, you)! This is technically called elastic deformity - when there is less damage to the car, more energy is transferred to the contents inside the car. When metal crushes, energy is absorbed and less energy affects the vehicle's conten ts (technically called plastic deformity). This is exemplified by race cars. When they crash, they are made to break apart so the contents (the driver) is less jostled by the force of the collision. Sometimes, all that is left after the collision is the cage surrounding the driver.

Whiplash Symptoms. Symptoms can occur immediately or within minutes to hours after the initial injury. Also, less injured areas may be overshadowed initially by more seriously injured areas and may only "surface" after the more serious injured areas improve. The most common symptoms include neck pain, headaches, and limited neck movement (stiffness). Neck pain may radiate into the middle back area and/or down an arm. If arm pain is present, a pinched nerve is a distinct possibility. Also, mild brain injury can occur even when the head is not bumped or hit. These symptoms include difficulty staying on task, losing your place in the middle of thought or sentences and tireness/fatigue. These symptoms often resolve within 6 weeks with a 40% chance of still hurting after 3 months, and 18% chance after 2 years. There is no reliable method to predict the outcome. Studies have shown that early mobilization and manipulation results in a better outcome than waiting for weeks or months to seek chiropractic treatment. The best results are found by obtaining prompt chiropractic care.

We realize that you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs and we truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you through that potentially difficult process.

Dr. Brad’s Weight-Loss Challenge

Dear Patients,

I wanted you all to know that I’ve recently taken on the challenge of losing 25 pounds before May 1 in an effort to be the healthiest Dr. Brad I can be. And for added motivation, I’ve agreed to pay my staff $1,000 if I don’t reach my goal!

I hope my efforts will inspire my patients to make positive changes for good health – If I can do it, I know you can too! You can follow my weight-loss challenge on Facebook by clicking HERE!.

Watching your back,
Dr. Brad
201-651-9100

"My Neck Is Killing Me!"

When patients present with neck pain, they always ask, "where is the pain coming from?" Of course, this can only be answered after a careful history and thorough evaluation is completed, which is what we do in this office. Let's take a closer look at what this involves.

The History: This includes a careful description of how the injury occurred, if there was an injury. For example, in a slip and fall injury, it makes a difference if the patient fell forwards, sideways, or backwards; if they landed on their knees, hips, buttocks, back or if they hit their head on the ground. Also, if there was a dazed feeling or loss of consciousness in the process. If there was a head strike, were there any signs of concussion: fatigue, mental "fog," headache, difficulty communicating or forming words or sentences. When there is no specific injury, we will ask if there were perhaps one or more, "mini-" or "micro-" injuries that may have occurred sometime within 2-3 days prior to the onset of the neck pain. The cumulative effect of several small "micro-injuries" can result in a rather significant onset of symptoms several days later. The next batch of information gathered includes factors that i ncrease and decrease the pain, the type of pain quality (sharp, dull, throb, burn, itch, etc.), pain location - "...put your finger on where it hurts and "does it radiate into the arms or legs, severity (pain level 0-10), and timing such as, "it's worse for the 1st 30 min. in the morning and then loosens up." Information regarding past history, family history, medical history (surgeries, medications), social history, habits (caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, etc.), and a systems review (heart, lungs, stomach, nervous system, etc.).

The Physical Exam: This includes vital signs (blood pressure, etc), observation - the way the head is positioned (forwards, to the side, rotated, etc.); palpation - touch/feel for muscle spasm, trigger points, spinal vertebra position and motion; range of motion, orthopedic and neurological tests. The exam procedure may also include x-ray, depending on each case.

The Diagnosis: This is determined after taking all your information and "...putting the puzzle pieces together" to determine what is causing your pain.

The Treatment: Chiropractic spinal manipulation (often referred to as "adjustments") is performed by applying energy or force to the misaligned or fixed vertebra structures by one of many methods depending on the patient's size, pain level, tolerance, and so on. Other "manual" treatment approaches include soft tissue therapy such as trigger point therapy, active release, massage, vibration, and others. The use of physical therapy modalities such as ice, heat, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, light - laser therapy, and/or others, again, depending on your specific situation and needs can also be very helpful. Similarly, exercises to teach you how to hold your proper posture, to improve flexibility or range of motion, and to strengthen the muscles that are weak really help to make the adjustments "hold" and the beneficial effects last longer. A work station/job assessment may also be needed if that appears to be irritating your condition.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Fibromyalgia and Sleep

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that has produced more diverse opinions from researchers and physicians than almost any other condition. This has made finding a health care provider who is willing to manage the FM patient very challenging. Similarly, patient perceptions vary widely from those who strive to live a normal life despite their symptoms vs. those who are unable to cope and "give in" to the disorder. FM occurs in about 2% of the population with the majority of sufferers being women. Common symptoms include muscle aches, joint pain, sleep disturbance and widespread body tender points or areas. The term "fibrositis" was first reported in 1904 to describe patients with these symptoms with many names being used including myositis, myalgia, fibrosis, myofibrositis, psychogenic rheumatism, and probably others! Not until the mid 1970's did the term "fibromyalgia" become the accepted term , getting rid of the "-itis" suffix which means "inflammation" and adopting the "-algia" suffix, which means condition or pain. In the 1990s, the American College of Rheumatology published distinct criteria for diagnosing FM requiring 11 of 18 tender points to be identified on examination, but this too has been criticized with new recommendations to accept widespread pain, sleep disturbance, and long-term or chronic symptoms as being appropriate to establish the diagnosis. Most recently, a central nervous system (CNS) origin rather than a localized inflammatory condition is now the current accepted area of the body that is the focus of cause and treatment.

Sleep or, the inability to get to deep sleep (which takes 3-4 hours of continuous sleep), has been identified as a major symptom of FM. Similarly, many of the symptoms of poor sleep coincide with the symptoms of FM such as fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, and diffuse pain. While certain medications and herbal remedies have been focused on and discussed, little has been reported on the changes the patient can make to facilitate sleep. The first order of business to help the sleep pattern is to make sure there are no underlying conditions such as sleep apnea or thyroid disease. Second, what is the FM patient's sleep habit(s) or routine? This includes the time they go to sleep, the time prior to falling asleep once in bed, how many times do they wake up at night and the length of time to fall back asleep, how rested do they feel in the morning and how long does it take "to wake up" and what has to be done - co ffee, meds, etc., to feel "awake." Third, identify other reasons for waking - pets in bed, a snoring partner, babies/kids or elderly care, and/or working swing or night shifts. The "treatment" of the FM patient for sleep disturbance includes discouraging daytime long naps - short naps are OK limited to 30 minutes max and at least 8 hours before bedtime.

Here's a summary list of recommendations:

1. Reduce room distractions (no pets, no TV);
2. Comfortable sleeping temperature and noise level - consider a white noise or "sound machine;"
3. Establish a bedtime and awakening time based on the number of hours that it "usually" takes for that person to feel "rested;"
4. Start a "wind-down" 60-90 min. before bedtime - reading, writing - to relax and "let go" of the day's events;
5. Avoid stimulating books or movies before bedtime;
6. Writing down cares or worries of the day in a journal 45-60 minutes before bedtime;
7. Avoid next day planning during the "wind-down" time period;
8. Perform deep breathing exercises at bedtime;
9. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol pre-bedtime;
10. Limit exercise after 3 hrs before bedtime;
11. Avoid longer than 30 min. naps less than 8 hrs pre-bed time;
12. Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime;
13. Avoid clock watching;
14. If unable to fall asleep within 15-20 minutes, get up and engage in relaxation exercise and return to bed when feeling sleepy;
15. Consider a softer mattress (harder is NOT always better);
16. Some sleep centers advocate at least 40 minutes of strong light exposure after rising in the mornings.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Oakland Spine Offers FREE Stretching Class

We are very pleased to announce that we will be offering a FREE FLEXIBILITY Class to all of our current and former clients. The class will be held on the second Tuesday of every month, beginning Tuesday, March 15th. The class will be led by Casey from our Physical Therapy department. Casey has a tremendous amount of experience teaching these classes and we are thrilled she has volunteered to help our patients get healthier. The class is limited to the first 8 who sign up. We wanted to keep the class size small so that Casey can work with everyone individually to ensure proper technique. Further, all participants will have to sign a liability waiver to be eligible to participate.

For YEARS, I have seen how the LACK of flexibility has contributed to pain, decreased response to care, a loss of energy and many other undesirable symptoms. This class has been a goal of mine for several years. It is just one more reason to come to Oakland Spine for all of your health needs. We are excited to offer it as an added BONUS for you and your family and friends.

Watching your back,
Dr. Brad
201-651-9100

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Empathy Improves Care.
Doctors showing clinical empathy to patients can improve their satisfaction of care, motivate them to stick to their treatment plans and lower malpractice complaints. Empathy is the ability to understand another's experience, to communicate and confirm that understanding with the other person and to then act in a helpful manner. In a recent study, oncologists were video-recorded speaking with their patients and only responded to 22% of moments thought to be an empathic opportunity. Another study involving oncologists and lung cancer patients showed the physicians responding to only 11% of empathic opportunities.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, Jan 2011

Health Alert: Elderly Do Not Receive Same Care As Younger Patients!
A recent study reveals trauma centers that excel in the care of severely injured young patients do not necessarily provide the same quality of care to elderly ones. Elderly patients are more likely to have coexisting diseases than younger patients (they often have heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and might be on blood thinners). All of these things need to be addressed at the same time their injuries are cared for. Elderly persons are also more likely to have reduced organ function, what physicians describe as "physiologic reserve".
Annals of Surgery, January 2011

Diet: Bigger Leads To Bigger.
When you're ordering a Starbucks "Trenta" iced coffee, you're not only getting a massive drink (31 ounces) but massive calories (190 calories using non-fat milk). An extra 200 calories per day will lead to a potential weight gain of about 2 pounds per month, or potentially 21 pounds per year.
Loyola University Health System, January 2011

Exercise: Walk It Off.
60% of adults over age 65 walk less than one mile per week. Walking more and losing weight can improve mobility as much as 20% in older, obese adults with poor cardiovascular health.
Archives of Internal Medicine, January 2011

Chiropractic: All In A Name.
"Samuel H. Weed, at my request selected two Greek words, cheir and praktikos, meaning, "done by hand," from which I coined the word, CHIROPRACTIC."
~ DD Palmer

Wellness/Prevention: Obesity And Smoking.
The average lifespan of US citizens is shorter, when compared to rival countries, in great part because 1) Americans used to smoke a lot, and 2) Americans have considerably higher than global average rates of obesity. The lingering effects of regular smoking persevere to varying extents for twenty to thirty years after an individual has quit. More people are obese in America than in any other developed country. 20-33% of reduced longevity is linked to obesity. Obesity rates continue to rise and may wipe out any expected improvements in life span.
National Research Council, January 2011

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Can We Prevent It?

The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is commonly associated with repetitive motions or, working long hours with fast hand movements such as on an assembly line, food packing line, waitress work, or on a computer keyboard and mouse. However, there are many other possible causes that are less commonly discussed such as pregnancy (caused by generalized water retention), birth control pills (same reason), obesity (same reason), rheumatoid arthritis, hormonal disorders such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and menopause and others. Of course, if one combines a fast repetitive job with a hormonal disorder, the chances are increased even more for developing CTS. Essentially, any condition that results in an increase in swelling within the carpal tunnel (wrist), will potentially cause CTS so injuries like sprains/strains, fractures, sports injuries, tendonitis and so forth are all potential causes of CTS. Common symptoms of CTS include: numbness in the 2nd to 4th fingers/hand, pain in the same location, waking up at night needing to shake or "flick" the fingers, driving related numbness, weakness in the grip, difficulty buttoning a shirt, and performing fast repetitive tasks (sewing, crocheting, knitting, cooking) or awkward wrist position tasks (auto mechanic, waitress, musicians, electricians, plumbers, carpenters).

Knowing the cause is important when considering CTS prevention. It is also important to realize the pressure within the carpal tunnel doubles in people without CTS and increases six times in people with CTS when we flex or extend our wrist up or down so sleeping with the wrist straight REALLY HELPS! This is why patients wear a wrist "cock-up splint" so they don't accidentally bend their wrist when sleeping. Night splints like this are also very effective so the swollen tendons and/or other structures in the carpal tunnel can properly "rest." If a person has a history of CTS that comes and goes, depending on how active they are, wearing a night splint as a prevention approach is appropriate. The use of a wrist splint during the day is often NOT a good idea if it impedes one's ability to do their normal or needed tasks. This is because we will irritate the forearm where the splint hits when we fle x / extend the wrist and localized bruising can result (sometimes increasing the symptoms of CTS). Using a splint on long drives can also be helpful as driving frequently irritates CTS.

Mayo Clinic offers the following as a list of precautions that may help in reducing the onset, or if present, the frequency/intensity of CTS symptoms:

1. Reduce your force and relax your grip
2. Take frequent breaks
3. Watch your form
4. Improve your posture
5. Keep your hands warm

Here is the URL for more detailed information: mayoclinic.com

Though these strategies can help, make sure you properly manage any existing "other problems" listed in the middle of the 1st paragraph. Also, as discussed in prior Health Updates, chiropractic management offers a great non-surgical solution to the management of CTS and should FIRST be utilized before considering surgery!

We realize you have a choice in who you are consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

Low Back Pain and Weight

Have you ever been told (or at least heard it said): if you could just drop a few pounds, your low back pain would improve? It's pretty well accepted that excess weight contributes to low back pain. So, if that's the case, which dietary approach is "...the best?"

Even though weight loss is very important, it can be very challenging for patients because it takes commitment to achieve long term success. Sure, we can lose weight with the Adkins Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the South Beach Diet, through Weight Watchers and a host of other approaches. But, why do we seem to gain it right back once we discontinue the diet plan? There must be a way to take the weight off and then keep it off.

We have a very similar genetic makeup to our Paleolithic (cave man era) ancestors. Since this is a fact, we can look at the type of food that the cave man consumed and logically draw the conclusion that the "Paleodiet" or "caveman diet" would be a great alternative to our current diet. Thankfully, this does not mean that we change our wardrobe and lifestyle to the point that we go back and live in caves and throw spears to hunt and gather!

What it does mean, however, is we consume similar foods: grass fed animal meat (the more lean the better) and food that grows off the land - that is, fruits and vegetables. These foods are easily broken down and assimilated without alerting our body's defense system (the autoimmune system) that some foreign particle is inside of us resulting in an army of antibodies showing up to ward off these enemy particles. By avoiding this autoimmune response, at the same time, we are reducing or avoiding all together the inflammatory process, which is a common denominator to all illnesses including musculoskeletal conditions.

So, what do we eat too much of now that the cave man didn't eat? The answer is gluten! Most flour based products (bread, pasta, cookies, cake, and many more) contain gluten and are "pro-inflammatory" or, cause systemic inflammation. Over time, this can lead to weight gain, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, as well as a host of many other conditions. The reason glutens are bad is that our bodies are not genetically able to handle the breakdown of these large "macromolecules." When glutens are detected, we produce antibodies to attack these particles that are resting on the intestinal wall, which, in turn, is damaged in the process, resulting in a "leaky gut" allowing absorption of the large particles. This in turn, results in yet further autoimmune responses as these large (normally not absorbed) macromolecules are detected in our blood stream furthering the inflammatory process. This damag e leads to further malabsorption syndromes ("leaky gut") and a vicious cycle is created. So, what can we do to prevent this from happening and, how can we reduce the inflammation through our diet?

Easy! Just stop eating glutens! Go to the grocery store's "gluten-free section" and buy products that are gluten-free. Over time, your weight will drop, your energy levels will increase, and the mental fog lifts - you'll feel 10 years younger and, you'll be able to enjoy life more completely. Sound too good to be true? Try it - prove me wrong - I dare you!

If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Lose 25 lbs. Challenge - Update

"How can you make losing weight simple? There's an old saying in business that goes something like, "If everybody is doing the same thing one way - do the opposite" Meaning don't follow the herd. An example of this, in my business, is in our marketing approach. Most of my competition, because of fear of the economy, have cut back on their marketing costs. Many people, including my accountant, have suggested I do the same. However, I am of the mindset that this has created a massive OPPORTUNITY. So I have almost doubled my marketing budget and expanded into television. The result? We are busier then ever before.

How does this relate to mindset for weight-loss? If you read my opening blog/email last week I talked about the difference between a "smart" plan and a "dumb" plan. Today, I will further explore that and hopefully it will have a very positive impact on your health goals. Simply stated, there are certain universal laws that govern how our bodies operate. One of those laws is THE LAW OF ADAPTATION. Simply put, your body (and mine) requires two very important components if it is going to change - TIME AND REPETITION. If you think about it, any thing your body or mind wants to do requires those two things to be successful. And - it doesn't matter what you've been taught to believe, it doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl, it doesn't matter what month it is (or season) - for you to lose weight this is a simple fact that we must recognize. Remember, you and I didn't put all this weight on in one or two weeks. What makes us think it will come off in that time? Guess what - it won't. Why do you think all of these miracle diets and fast weight loss fix products never work? Why is it that everyone you know who's attempted to do a 30 day cleanse - or the like - usually ends up back to where they started or worse? Because it's unnatural - and that makes it VERY DIFFICULT. To me that's a "dumb" plan.

Let's explore a simple plan - first, assume it's going to take a while and that there's no rush. In the beginning take simple steps that are more natural and less stressful. One very simple approach is to STOP looking at how much weight you want to lose. That can be a very stressful and disheartening thought. Instead, come up with a smaller, very achievable goal in the near future. For example, don't say, "I need to lose 50 pounds by May - so on Monday I am going to only drink water, have a protein bar for breakfast, a salad for lunch and 5 carrots for dinner. I am also going to start PX 90 (a 6 day a week training program that is brutal)." That's too much. You are asking so much from your mind and body that very few people can achieve that. Instead, don't think about the total amount, try to set a very reasonable weekly goal which will allow you to make just a small and reasonable change and will be EASY to achieve. Something like, "Starting next week I want to lose 2 pounds per week. To do that (which is so easy), I will stop having desert Monday through Friday"....... yup, that's it. No exercise (that will come later), no fasting - just cutting out junk at night, and even then it's only during the week, not the weekends. All you are doing is "Eliminating", not adding - simple, right? Read this quote about "Elimination" from the great martial artist and film star, Bruce Lee, "One does not accumulate, but eliminate. It is not daily increase, but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.". That's one of my favorite inspirations. Too many of us live in the "multi-tasking" lifestyle, where we are constantly adding things, activities,etc. which lead to more stress. Happiness can come from ELIMINATING, too.

So, that's this weeks lesson. Focus on small things you can eliminate. Have a simple and EASILY achievable short term goal. AND NO STRESS. As you start to achieve these small goals and feel good about yourself - we will then start to talk about what kinds of foods you should eat and when to eat them. After that we'll talk about getting lean and mean. So, until next week...

P.S. I'm 5 lbs lighter following this first part of the plan. You can do it!!!!!!

Watching your back,
Dr. Brad
201-651-9100