Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Learning and Stress.
Stressed and non-stressed persons use different brain regions and different strategies when learning. Non-stressed individuals applied a deliberate learning strategy, while stressed subjects relied more on their gut feelings.
Journal of Neuroscience, August 2012

Health Alert: Calcium and Vitamin D?
It has been a long standing protocol for men at risk of bone loss from hormonal treatment for prostate cancer to take Calcium and vitamin D supplements. New research shows this type of supplementation does not prevent bone loss and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and aggressive prostate cancer.
The Oncologist, July 2012

Diet: Deep Fried?
Fairs and boardwalks serve up plenty of deep-fried diet disasters. From fried cheesecake (around 500 calories), to fried macaroni and cheese (roughly 610 calories), and gigantic turkey legs (about 1,136 calories and 54 grams of fat), most eat-while-you-walk foods are a huge calorie overload, not to mention the grease!
American Heart Association

Exercise: Lower Your Diabetes Risk.
The World Health Organization estimates that 346 million people have diabetes, and deaths related to it are expected to double between 2005 and 2030, with more than 80% of them occurring in low and middle income countries. Men who weight train 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week may be able to lower their risk for type 2 diabetes by up to 34%. Also, men may be able to lower their risk further (by 59%) if they combine weight training with aerobic exercise, like brisk walking or running. The effects are probably due to increased muscle mass and improved insulin sensitivity.
Archives of Internal Medicine, August 2012

Chiropractic: Neck Posture and Whiplash.
Abnormal, pre-injury curves of the neck increase the risk of whiplash injury to the facet capsules, and predispose the patient to accelerated post traumatic long-term, degenerative changes of the spine.
Journal of Biomechanics, June 2005

Wellness/Prevention: 6 Tips For Injury Prevention In Young Athletes.
1) Take at least 1 day off a week to give your body time to recover. 2) Take breaks to reduce risk of injury and prevent heat illness. 3) Use correct gear that is right for the sport and fits properly, and don't assume because you are wearing protective gear you can perform more dangerous and risky things. 4) Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise to avoid heat illness. Coaches should reduce or stop practices when heat or humidity is high. 5) Use proper technique at all times. 6) Coaches should play it safe and enforce strict rules against head-first sliding, spearing, and body checking, and stop the activity if there is any pain.
American Academy of Pediatrics

NINE Days Left in Our iMac Give-Away!

Congratulations to Thomas W. who picked up his mountain bike from our last Referral Give-Away! Rob and the guys at Pedals were such a great help with fitting Tom with his new bike. We have coupons to Pedals in the office for anyone interested in purchasing their very own bike!

There are only NINE days left in this month's Referral Give-Away! There are THREE ways which you can gain entry into our "Change the World" Raffle Drum.

1. Refer a friend, family member, or co-worker into the office for a FREE consultation.
2. Invite someone you know who suffers from back pain to our next Pain Free Dinner Seminar (This Wed. 9/27)- call us at 862-226-0928 for more information
3. Share your personal success story with us through a testimonial.

Remember, in addition to Chiropractic Care, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Class IV Deep Tissue Laser, Decompression Therapy, we also offer Massage Therapy! These many different therapies allow us treat a wide range of conditions such as scoliosis, herniated discs, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, neck and back pain, headaches, and more. Have your loved ones call to set up a consultation.

The more friends and family members you refer, the more entries you receive! When you refer in 1 friend you will get 1 entry card. If you refer in 2 friends you will get an additional 5 entries. If you refer in 3 or more people you will get 10 entries per person!!

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Positive Emotion.
Older adults display more positive emotions and are quicker to regulate out of negative emotional states than younger adults. Older adults may be better at regulating emotion because they tend to direct their eyes away from negative material or toward positive material.
Current Directions in Psychological Science, August 2012

Health Alert: Alzheimer's Research.
The global market for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics could soar to $8 billion once therapies are approved that actually change the course of the disease. The current therapeutic market is valued at $3-4 billion and is shared among drugs that temporarily delay disease progression or address the symptoms but do not alter the underlying disease. Despite all the research on amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, there is still a debate on whether these biological phenomena are causative or symptomatic of Alzheimer's. Once scientists can clearly and unequivocally define key factors related to the actual biology of the disease itself, therapeutic advances could take place much more quickly.
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, August 2012

Diet: Summer Time Blues!
Barbequed hot dogs and sausages are common summer time treats, but are they the right choice for your diet? It's not just the high levels of fat or calories that are cause for concern, most hot dogs, bratwurst, and other sausages are also very high in sodium. The average hot dog contains 280 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 1,250 mg of sodium.
American Heart Association

Exercise: Micronutrients and Physical Fitness
Adolescents' blood levels of micronutrients are correlated with how well they perform in physical fitness tests. For cardio-respiratory fitness, concentrations of hemoglobin, retinol, and vitamin C in males and beta-carotene and vitamin D in females was positively associated with VO2 max (peak oxygen uptake).
Journal of Applied Physiology, Aug 2012

Chiropractic: Lack of Motion.
Back in 1933, a study showed lack of proper joint motion can cause Degenerative Joint Disease (osteoarthritis). An immobilized joint will develop cartilage changes similar to those of osteoarthritis.
Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics, 1933

Wellness/Prevention: Nutrition and IQ.
Children fed healthy diets at a young age may have a higher IQ when tested at eight years old. A study looked at the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and two years, and their IQ at eight years of age. Children breastfed at six months and who had a healthy diet regularly including foods such as legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 and 24 months, had an IQ up to two points higher by age eight. Those children who had a diet regularly involving biscuits, chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to two points lower by age eight.
University of Adelaide, Aug 2012

Low Back and Obesity (Part 2)

Losing weight can dramatically reduce low back pain (LBP). Like last month, we will look at easy ways to lose weight without the need for fancy, hard to follow diets. As the saying goes, this is a “no-brainer.”

1. Alcohol hints. When consuming alcohol, follow the first beverage with a glass of water. This will reduce calories and often reduces unhealthy snack intake such as chips or nuts.
2. Go “green” as in tea! Studies show green tea can “rev up” calorie burning.
3. Try Yoga! According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, women who do Yoga tend to weigh less. Plus, yoga is calming and promotes self-awareness!
4. Eat at home. According to Consumer Reports, eating at home at least 5 days a week was a top habit of “successful losers.” Emphasize foods like fruits and vegetables!
5. Chew strong mint gum! Studies have shown a strong flavored sugarless gum can curb your risk for a snack attack. Chewing gum is a great substitute for “mindless eating” when socializing, watching TV, studying, or working on that computer project.
6. Shrink your dishes! By choosing a 10” vs. 12” plate, the amount eaten automatically reduces by 100-200 calories a day (according to Cornell University research)!
7. The “80-20 rule.” Eating until you are 80% full vs. 100% can be accomplished 2 ways: 1. Stop eating at the 80% full point or, 2. Dish out 20% less food.
8. Eating out options: A. Split an entrée with a friend; B. Order an appetizer as a meal; C. Use a small plate; D. Have them pack ½ the meal into a “doggie bag” BEFORE serving it and order a salad or extra veggies to substitute for the other half.
9. Reach for Red Sauce: Choose marinara over Alfredo sauce as it has fewer calories and much less fat than cream-based sauces. A serving = the size of a tennis ball.
10. Go meatless more often. Consider bean burgers, lentil soup, veggies and fruit and when you have to have meat, make it a lean variety, remove the fat, and cook in olive oil.
11. Burn 100 calories by doing one of the following: A. Walk a mile, or about 20 minutes; B. Pull weeds or plant flowers for 20 minutes; C. Mow the lawn (walking) for 20 minutes; D. Clean the house for 30 minutes; E. Jog for 10 minutes.

CELEBRATE! Once you’ve successfully kicked the habit of soda, ice cream or other “calorie-poor” foods, be PROUD of your accomplishment! You’ve also improved your quality of life, longevity, and reduced your chances of developing diabetes, heart disease and other health issues. PLUS, you'll feel better!

We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide 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.

We Have Extended our iMac Give-Away!

We have extended our iMac Give-Away until the end of September. This allows your friends and family TWO EXTRA weeks to schedule their appointment in order to have your name entered for a chance to win an iMac computer!

There are THREE ways which you can gain entry into our "Change the World" Raffle Drum.

1. Refer a friend, family member, or co-worker into the office for a FREE consultation.
2. Invite someone you know who suffers from back pain to our next Pain Free Dinner Seminar (This Wed. 9/12)- see the girls at the front desk for more information
3. Share your personal success story with us through a testimonial

The more friends and family members you refer, the more entries you receive! When you refer in 1 friend you will get 1 entry card. If you refer in 2 friends you will get an additional 5 entries. If you refer in 3 or more people you will get 10 entries per person!!

Whiplash: Does Chiropractic Work?

The term “Whiplash” is associated with neck injuries that frequently occur as a result of motor vehicle collisions. There is much published about how injury occurs, the most compelling of which is that we simply cannot voluntarily contract our neck muscles fast enough to avoid injury, as injury to the neck occurs within 500msec. and voluntary contraction or bracing takes 800msec or longer. The question this month is, does chiropractic work in managing patients with whiplash associated disorders (WAD)?

To answer this, a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine reported that chiropractic was indeed superior to standard medical care. Most importantly, they studied chronic whiplash patients that (typically) are more challenging to treat compared to the acute, more recently injured whiplash patient. Their article starts out with the statement, “…conventional treatment of patients with whiplash symptoms is disappointing.” The term “conventional treatment” means medical (non-chiropractic) treatment. One of the studies referenced by the authors reported 26 of 28 patients suffering from chronic whiplash syndrome benefited from chiropractic treatment. The term “chronic” means that those injured have had ongoing complaints for longer than 3 to 6 months, and typically are less likely to respond compared to those more recently injured (acute injuries).

The authors interviewed 100 consecutive chiropractic patients being treated for chronic whiplash of which 93 completed the entire study. Those 93 were divided into 3 symptom groups: Group 1 consisted of neck to shoulder area pain, restricted neck movement with no neurological injury; Group 2 consisted of neck pain, restricted movement, and neurological loss; Group 3 consisted of severe neck pain but had full/normal neck movement, no neurological loss, but had unusual symptoms including blackouts, visual disturbance, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and non-anatomic neurological complaints, which means the pain or numbness does not correlate with exam findings or were inconsistent. An average of 19.3 chiropractic adjustments over a mean 4.1 month duration were rendered after which time the patients were surveyed and the results are as follows (“asymptomatic” = no pain or symptoms):

• Group 1: 24% Asymptomatic, 24% Improved by 2 symptom grades, 24% Improved by 1 symptom grade, 28% No improvement.
• Group 2: 38% Asymptomatic, 43% Improved by 2 symptom grades, 13% Improved by 1 symptom grade, and 6% No improvement.
• Group 3: 0% Asymptomatic, 9% Improved by 2 symptom grades, 18% Improved by 1 symptom grade, 64% No improvement, and 9% Got worse.

In their discussion, they reported that similar to the study where chronic symptoms improved in 26 of 28 patients (93%), here 69 of 93 patients improved (74%). They identified a “non-responders” group (Group 3), where neck movement was normal in spite of pain, bizarre symptoms, and ongoing litigation. The mean age was lower in this group vs. the other two (29.5 vs. 36.8 years old). They concluded, “The results from this study provide further evidence that chiropractic is an effective treatment for chronic whiplash symptoms. However, our identification of a group of patients who fail to respond to such treatment highlights the need for a careful history and physical examination before commencing treatment.” Bottom line, try chiropractic FIRST!!!

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, 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.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Think You Are Fat?
Researchers found that normal weight teens who perceive themselves as fat are more likely to grow up to be fat. 59% of girls who felt fat as a teen became overweight in adulthood while 31% of girls who did not consider themselves fat during adolescence were found to be overweight. Normal weight girls were more likely than boys to rate themselves as overweight (22% of girls vs. 9% of the boys). One reason for weight gain in later years may be due to psychosocial stress, which can be associated with gaining weight. Under this scenario, the psychosocial stress related to having (or not having) an ideal body type, along with the perception of oneself as overweight, can result in weight gain. Another explanation may be that young people who see themselves as fat often change their eating habits by skipping meals, which can lead to obesity. Also, a diet you can't maintain over time will be counterproductive, as the body tries to maintain the weight you had before you started to diet.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, July 2012

Health Alert: Depression Is A World-Wide Problem.
It's widely believe that depression is a phenomenon of Western culture, but researchers who analyzed studies involving over 480,000 people across 91 countries have found the opposite is true. They estimate the rate of depression in Middle Eastern and some Asian countries (~9%) is twice that found in countries like the United States and Australia (~4%).
World Health Organization, 2010

Diet: Bad BBQ News!
Barbecue can sabotage your waistline. A 20 ounce T-bone steak can weigh in at 1,540 calories, with 124 grams of fat. A cheeseburger has 750 calories and 45 grams of fat. Pork or beef ribs come from the fattiest part of the animal. Healthier options include pork tenderloin, skinless chicken breast, and lean ground beef.
American Heart Association

Exercise: Good Reasons.
Regular exercise maintains or improves joint flexibility, improves your glucose tolerance and reduces workdays missed due to illness.
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996

Chiropractic: Motion and Nutrition.
Cartilage is avascular, meaning it does not receive nutrition via blood vessels. Like a sponge, it takes in fluid and releases the fluid when compression is applied. This alternating compression and re-expansion allows it to receive its supply of nutrients and remove metabolic waste.
Arthritis & Rheumatism, 1984

Wellness/Prevention: Lose To Gain?
People who are overweight or obese could gain ten years worth of health benefits by simply losing 20 pounds. Modest weight loss (average 14 lbs) reduced the risk of individuals developing Type 2 diabetes by 58%. Weight loss of just 10% of a person's body weight has been shown to have long-term impact on sleep apnea, hypertension, quality of life, and to slow the decline in mobility that occurs as people age.
American Psychological Association, July 2012

Neck Pain and Smoking – What’s the Connection?

There is a lot of convincing peer reviewed literature (research) that supports chiropractic as one of the first and best courses of care to consider when choosing a treatment option for neck pain and headaches. This is because there is low risk, few rare side-effects, and most importantly, IT REALLY WORKS! But, there are other considerations in the management of neck and headache pain that perhaps we haven’t thought about. One is smoking.

There are several convincing studies that have looked at the exposure to tobacco smoke and smoking in terms of its effect on neck pain. Let’s look at some statistics. One study reported that as many as 213 per 1000 people reported neck pain. The 12-month prevalence of neck pain ranged between 30-50% of which activity-limiting pain was reportedly as high as 11.5%. Women were found to be more at risk than men which peaks in middle age. Risk factors for neck pain include genetics, poor psychological health, and EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO. Interestingly, smoking/exposure to tobacco is listed as a risk factors but disk degeneration is not! Researchers also pointed out that the use of equipment made to prevent injury to the head/neck such as helmets and face shields was NOT associated with increased risk for neck injury in bicycling, hockey or skiing as some have suggested that wearing protective head gear increases vulnerability to injury. THIS IS NOT THE CASE, so wear your helmet! This study concluded that there are some things we can’t modify regarding increased risk of developing neck pain (such as gender, genetics, and age); however, the modifiable risk factors of smoking, exposure to tobacco, and psychological health CAN be helped so that’s the LEAST WE SHOULD DO!

Two new studies show that smoking is directly tied to neck/back pain and the development of arthritis. Interestingly, the Harvard study reported that the risk of developing psoriatic arthritis was twice as high for current vs. past smokers, and both current and past smokers were at greater risk when compared to those who had never smoked. The 2nd study (Paris, France) found that smokers had an earlier onset of inflammatory back/neck pain and a worse course of the disease than non-smokers. Taking these two studies together, the interactions between environmental factors and the onset, the degree of severity and the ultimate outcomes of rheumatic diseases, “…it’s becoming increasingly clear how detrimental the influence of smoking is on most of these diseases.” The worst scenario was found in those who smoked >25 years and, >20 “pack years” (>1 pack/day for 20+ years). The “bottom line” is that smoking and exposure to smoke have significant negative health affects, not only for present health, but also for future pain, suffering and quality of life. Thankfully, it’s been shown that if you quit smoking, the likelihood of improved health affects is high so of course, QUIT NOW and you’ll be ahead of the curve.

In fact, a conscientious surgeon recommending a spinal fusion may say, “…you must quit smoking or else I will not perform the surgery that you need.” The reason for this insistence is because the risk of fusion failure goes up 500% in smokers (fusions are needed in certain types of back and neck surgeries).

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for neck 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.

Is It Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms are characterized by chronic generalized pain, and can include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, numbness or tingling, bowel/bladder dysfunction, and sometimes effects our ability to process thought clearly (cognitive dysfunction). It can come on fast, almost overnight, or, develop very slowly over years of time. This highly variable onset makes establishing a diagnosis very challenging, and can also sometimes take years before the diagnosis is firmly established. In fact, the term “fibromyalgia” was not formally recognized as a diagnosis by the American College of Rheumatology and American Medical Association until 1987, and it remains a diagnosis made by excluding other diseases!

POPULAR MYTHS

MYTH: “Your symptoms are all in your head.”
TRUTH: FM is a “MEDICAL DISORDER” where the nervous system’s ability to process pain is different when compared to those who don’t have FM. Why there is a difference between individuals is the big question. Some research suggests these brain processing differences may be the result of childhood stress, or prolonged or severe stress.

MYTH: “Only lazy, inactive people get fibromyalgia .”
TRUTH: Research shows this not to be the case. In fact, most people with FM are focused and driven, and that stress associated with that intense drive may play a significant role in the development of FM symptoms.

MYTH: “There are no effective fibro treatments.”
TRUTH: The good news is that as more studies on FM arise, we are beginning to understand more about FM, resulting in more effective treatments. The “catch” is that what works for one individual may not work for another making it essential to find a “good doctor” (or rather, a good team of health care providers) who is willing to listen and continually try different approaches until an effective management approach is found.

COEXISTING CONDITIONS

There are some specific conditions that go hand in hand with FM, and though it’s not clear which comes first (FM or the condition), a clear relationship has been established. Some of these co-existing conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis (several different types can be associated), chronic fatigue syndrome, various sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome, anxiety, depression, and others. Often, blood and other lab tests come back negative and hence, the diagnosis is made by excluding those other conditions. What is MOST important is that to feel your best, these other conditions also need to be managed.

TREATMENT

As stated above, the management of FM is aimed at all the condition(s) affecting the person with FM. This is why a multidiscipline “team” of health care providers is so important, as we all have our own emphasis and perspective on what to do for patients. Options include: a clinical psychologist to manage the chemical and hormonal imbalances, a primary care doctor whom “believes in FM,” and a chiropractor to manage the musculoskeletal issues of FM. Other alternative approaches such as massage therapy, Yoga classes, and acupuncture can also provide significant relief. Nutritional counseling is also highly effective in the management strategy of FM. Most important is the fact that coordination between these various approaches be supervised. Since we deal with the whole person, chiropractors are the PERFECT CANDIDATE for that job!

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – A Yoga Class!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a very common problem that affects many people. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports about 28,000 CTS cases per year and because so many sufferers jump to a surgical option, it’s become THE LEADING CAUSE of lost workdays in the United States. Women are 71% more likely more likely to develop CTS than men!

In a review of over 31,000 cases, women spent an average of 30 days off work because of CTS. Jobs most commonly affected include: production workers in food processing and clothing manufacturing, typists who work at keyboards for hours on end, and construction workers who use tools that vibrate, such as jackhammers or tools that have poorly designed handles. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently estimated that almost 3 percent of adults in the United States may suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at some point in their lives.

Now that we’ve learned how susceptible we are to CTS, what are some things you can do to decrease your chances of acquiring Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? For starters, keep your weight reasonable (Body Mass Index between 19 and 25), take “mini-breaks” during the repetitive work day, and receive chiropractic treatments aimed at releasing the tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, forearms, hand and adjusting the associated joints.

You can also stretch! There are many different types of stretches that should be considered. Feel free to watch the entire 37-minute YouTube video below that addresses many exercises that may help:

As you perform these various stretches, take deep breaths, “feel” the different fibers of muscles stretch and keep the intensity, “…within reasonable pain boundaries.” That is, a “good hurt” is what you’re striving for here, no sharp pain is allowed!

We realize you have a choice in who you 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.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Sleep and Stroke Risk!
Adults (in the normal weight range) who sleep less than 6 hours per night have a much greater risk of stroke symptoms during middle age and old age than their peers who sleep more than 6 hours per night.
University of Alabama, Aug 2012

Health Alert: Insecticides and IQs!
A study found a difference between how boys and girls respond to prenatal exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos. At age seven, boys had greater difficulty with working memory (a key component of IQ) than girls with similar exposures. MRI scans show that even low to moderate levels of exposure during pregnancy may lead to long-term, potentially irreversible changes in the brain. The chemical is used in agriculture, wood treatments, golf courses, parks, and road medians. Low-level exposure can also occur by eating fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with chlorpyrifos.
Neurotoxicology and Teratology, Aug 2012

Diet: What Do They Eat?
Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman talks about the importance of nutrition and her post-workout staple: chocolate milk. Chocolate milk is a common athlete favorite because of its carb/protein ratio and vitamins for muscle recovery. Beach volleyball player Kerry Walsh eats almond butter and honey sandwiches before she competes. The sugar from honey is immediately energizing while the protein and fats in almond butter help sustain that energy boost. Polo player Ryan Bailey says his power breakfast is gluten-and-dairy-free buckwheat banana pancakes with fruit.
European Lung Foundation, July 2011

Exercise: 'Exergames'?
Active video games (AVGS, also known as "exergames") are not the perfect solution to the nation's sedentary ways since most AVGs provide only "light-to-moderate" intensity physical activity. It's recommended that the average adult get 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.
Michigan State University, August 2012

Chiropractic: What Is A Stinger?
You may have heard of an athlete in a contact sport (football, rugby, ice hockey, wrestling) receiving a "stinger." This injury occurs when the head and neck are forced to the side and the nerves that branch off the spinal cord in the neck become compressed. This can cause a stinging or shooting pain down one arm, followed by numbness or weakness. These injuries often go unreported because symptoms can quickly resolve, but if left untreated, repeated trauma can result in persistent pain or arm weakness.
WebMD, 1999

Wellness/Prevention: Yoga and Depression During Pregnancy.
Many pregnant women experience hormonal mood swings during pregnancy, and 20% experience a major depression. Expectant mothers who participated in 90-minute yoga sessions over a 10-week period experienced a considerable reduction in depressive symptoms, and also reported having a stronger attachment to their babies in the womb.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, August 2012