Weekly Health Update — Strong Support for Manual Therapy to Treat Back Pain.

Chiropractic: Strong Support for Manual Therapy to Treat Back Pain.
Two independent reviewers analyzed data from 360 studies published between 2000 and 2013 related to the use of manual therapies -- such as chiropractic care -- to treat acute, subacute, and chronic non-specific low back pain. For all levels of low back pain, the reviewers found strong evidence for the use of manual therapy to both decrease pain and improve function.
The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, May 2014

Mental Attitude: Tinnitus Affects How Sufferers Process Emotions.
Tinnitus is a condition in which patients hear noises that aren’t really there such as ringing, whooshing, whistles, and whines. According to experts, individuals with persistent tinnitus are more likely to experience increased stress, anxiety, irritability, and depression. To investigate how tinnitus affects the brain, researchers evaluated brain responses to different emotions by individuals both with and without tinnitus using functional magnetic resonance imaging. When compared to participants with normal hearing, they found tinnitus patients had decreased brain activity in the amygdala, the area of the brain that processes emotion and stress; however, they had increased activity in the parahippocampus and insula, areas of the brain that are also associated with emotions. This indicates that in order to cope with the stress of persistent noise, the brains of tinnitus patients have reduced activity in the amygdala and rerouted some of its functions to other regions.
Brain Research, June 2014

Health Alert: Serious Allergic Reactions with Some Acne Products.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers who use certain over-the-counter skin products for acne due to the risk of extreme allergic reactions. The active ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are suspected to cause these reactions, which can include feeling faint, breathing difficulties, throat tightness, and swelling of the eyes, lips, face, and tongue. Products containing the active ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are available as face washes, solutions, cleansing pads, gels, lotions, toners, and face scrubs. The FDA recommends consumers to stop using products containing these ingredients if they develop hives or itching.
Food and Drug Administration, June 2014

Diet: Fruits & Veggies May Not Help Weight Loss.
Adding more servings of fruits and vegetables is often recommended for individuals trying to lose weight, but according to researchers, doing so may not help them shed excess pounds. A review of seven studies found that increasing fruit and vegetable intake without reducing total calories consumed appears to have a near-zero effect on weight loss. Researcher Dr. Kathryn Kaiser adds, "In the overall context of a healthy diet, energy reduction is the way to help lose weight, so to reduce weight you have to reduce caloric intake."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2014

Exercise: Exercise Improves Body Composition for Kids.
A recent study referred to as “FITKids” demonstrated the extent to which physical activity can improve body composition, which is important as it contributes to overall health. The study included 220 eight- to nine-year-olds who were assigned to either a nine-month physical activity program that required 70 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days a week or a control group. Researchers measured baseline and follow-up cardiorespiratory fitness, percent fat mass, percent central fat mass, and estimated abdominal fat tissue. The FITKids showed improved cardiovascular fitness, less body fat, and carried less fat around their abdomens. The opposite was true for the control group who maintained their regular after-school routine.
Pediatrics, April 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Keep Teens Safe During Sports.
Participating in sports is a key part of many children's high school experience, but injuries can and do occur. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests the following ways to reduce the risk of sport-related injuries: wear protective equipment, ensure proper training and conditioning, build strength and stamina, follow rules and practice good sportsmanship, play only one sport per season, and don't play just one sport all year-long.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, May 2013

Weekly Health Update — Back Pain and Athletes.

Chiropractic: Back Pain and Athletes.
A new study indicates that two out of three teen athletes will experience an episode of back pain during their lifetime. Current research estimates the prevalence rate of back pain for the general population to be over 80%, or at least 14 percentage points higher than teen athletes can expect.
International Journal of Sports Medicine, July 2014

Mental Attitude: Two Explanations for the Link Between Stress & Heart Attack.
Scientists may have a better understanding of why ongoing stress raises an individual's risk of having a heart attack. They believe stress triggers the body to make extra disease-fighting white blood cells, and this can cause inflammation in the arteries of people with a condition called atherosclerosis, where the artery walls are thickened by a buildup of plaque. Other studies suggest that stress causes blood to clot differently. Both factors can lead to reduced blood flow to the heart.
Nature Medicine, June 2014

Health Alert: Numbing Medications Can Be Harmful to Teething Babies.
Teething infants can be seriously harmed or even die from certain "gum-numbing" medications, according to a new warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA states that local anesthetics known as viscous lidocaine and benzocaine-containing teething products should never be used for teething children, except under the advice and supervision of a health care professional. Viscous lidocaine requires a prescription, and it is typically used to treat mouth ulcers in chemotherapy patients. Parents who have viscous lidocaine on hand should not use it on teething infants. The FDA notes that it received 22 reports of serious incidents thus far in 2014, including deaths, linked to use of viscous lidocaine in babies and toddlers under three and a half years of age. The FDA also advises that over-the-counter benzocaine products, such as Anbesol and Baby Orajel, should not be used for children younger than age two.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, June 2014

Diet: Gluten-Free Diet Helps Celiac Patients with “Brain Fog”.
Poor memory, difficulty thinking clearly, difficulty finding the right word, and poor concentration -- often referred to as “Brain fog” -- are often experienced by celiac disease patients. A new study suggests that adopting a gluten-free diet seems to improve these symptoms as the intestines heal. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye that causes intestinal inflammation. Scientists found that when celiac patients removed gluten from their diet, they scored better for attention, memory, and other functions on assessment tests. Study author Dr. Greg Yelland adds, "Maintaining a gluten-free diet is essential not only for [celiac patients'] physical well-being, but for mental well-being also."
Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, June 2014

Exercise: Improve Your Workout By Exercising with Someone More Fit Than You.
Researchers from Kansas State University claim that individuals who exercise with a teammate or partner whom they perceive to be in better shape increased their workout time and intensity by as much as 200%. The research team found that partners who exercise at a level 40% greater are ideal for long-term motivation while they observed motivation levels declined when partners exercised at either the same or vastly superior levels.
Kansas State University, June 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Should Be a Family Value.
Previous research shows that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for both childhood and adult obesity. A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that if parents don't get enough sleep, their children don't tend to either. They recommend that in order to reduce the risk of childhood obesity, parents should ensure their children get at least ten hours of sleep per night and that they get at least seven hours themselves.
Preventing Chronic Disease, June 2014

Weekly Health Update — Positive Expectations Improve Outcomes.

Chiropractic: Positive Expectations Improve Outcomes.
Regardless of symptom severity, low back pain patients with more positive expectations appear to achieve better outcomes than patients who are neutral or negative about what to expect from chiropractic treatment.
European Spine Journal, June 2014

Mental Attitude: Brain Abnormalities in Youths Who Commit Homicide.
A new study suggests that adolescents who have committed one or more homicides have significantly different brain structures than those who have not. The results were gathered using MRI findings on 20 brains of youths who committed at least one homicide and 135 youth offenders (criminals) who had not committed a homicide. Among homicide offenders, the MRI scans revealed a significant reduction in gray matter in the areas of the brain associated with impulse control and emotional processing.
NeuroImage: Clinical, May 2014

Health Alert: 1 in 8 American Kids Mistreated.
More than 12% of kids in the United States experience beatings, neglect, or sexual or emotional abuse. Although lower than 25 years ago, the number of affected children is higher than researchers anticipated. The authors of the study note that the risk of childhood maltreatment is approximately four times higher during their first year of life and to reduce the risk of mistreatment, they recommend that friends and family pay special attention to the needs of parents of very young children.
JAMA Pediatrics, May 2014

Diet: Does Variety in Diet Hamper Microbial Diversity in the Gut?
Contrary to expectations, fish with more diverse diets have a less diverse population of gut microbes. If this holds true for humans, it could mean that the variety of foods individuals eat can impact their gut microbe diversity.
Ecology Letters, May 2014

Exercise: Vibration Exercise Helps Fibromyalgia Patients.
Researchers at the University of Indiana have found that whole-body vibration exercise may reduce pain symptoms as well as improve the quality of life of individuals with fibromyalgia. Regular exercise is one of the best known therapies for fibromyalgia, a disorder characterized by musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Unfortunately, many fibromyalgia patients are reluctant to exercise due to fear of pain increasing with physical activity. Whole-body vibration exercise involves standing, sitting, or lying on a machine with a vibrating platform that causes muscles to contract and relax as the machine vibrates.
Indiana University, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Blood Test May Identify Patients at Risk of Cardiovascular Death.
A study has identified a gene expression profile associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular death. Combined with other indicators such as biochemical markers and family history, a simple blood test may identify patients who could benefit from early treatment and counseling to reduce their heart attack risk. Senior author Dr. Gregory Gibson explains, "We envision that with our gene expression-based marker, plus some biochemical markers, genotype information and family history, we could produce a tiered evaluation of people's risks of adverse coronary events."
Genome Medicine, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Case Study.

Chiropractic: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Case Study.
A patient with shoulder impingement syndrome underwent chiropractic treatment that included soft tissue therapy, phonophoresis, manipulation, and shoulder exercises. At the end of treatment, the patient was symptom-free with a return to normal of shoulder range of motion and daily activities, including sports-related activities. This case report shows the potential benefit of chiropractic care in resolving symptoms associated with shoulder impingement syndrome.
Journal of Physiological Therapeutics, November 2014

Mental Attitude: Learning A Second Language Slows Cognitive Decline.
New research suggests that speaking more than one language may slow down age-related cognitive decline, even if the second language is learned during adulthood. Research leader Dr. Thomas Bak writes, "These findings are of considerable practical relevance. Millions of people around the world acquire their second language later in life. Our study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may benefit the aging brain."
Annals of Neurology, June 2014

Health Alert: Smoking & Passive Smoking Cause Hearing Loss.
Smokers are 15.1% more likely to develop hearing loss compared with non-smokers and passive smokers (those regularly exposed to second-hand smoke). Moreover, passive smokers were found to be 28% more likely to develop hearing loss than non-smokers. Lead researcher Dr. Piers Dawes adds, "We are not sure if toxins in tobacco smoke affect hearing directly, or whether smoking-related cardiovascular disease causes microvascular changes that impact on hearing, or both."
Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, May 2014

Diet: Green Tea Component Disrupts Cancer Cell Metabolism.
Researchers have discovered how an active component of green tea called epigallocatechen gallate (EGCG) disrupts the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells. They found that ECGC suppresses the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, a critical enzyme in cancer cell metabolism. This finding adds to numerous previous studies that have suggested green tea and its extracts may provide suitable treatment for cancer.
Metabolomics, April 2014

Exercise: Quality of Exercise More Important Than Quantity.
Scientists say that to lose weight and maintain optimal health and fitness, the quality of your exercise routine matters more than quantity. This new study suggests greater benefits can be attained from a multi-dimensional exercise program that includes resistance exercise, interval sprint exercise, stretching, and endurance exercise.
Journal of Applied Physiology, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Hospital Drops Obstetric Malpractice Claims By 50%!
With a rise in malpractice lawsuits pushing many doctors out of practice and deterring young doctors from pursuing obstetrics, a Connecticut hospital initiated a series of changes to help curb malpractice claims. By standardizing care, learning and practicing new teamwork protocols, and enhancing oversight of clinical work, the hospital reduced claims by 50% and cut payments for liability claims from $50 million to $3 million.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, June 2014

Weekly Health Update — Heavy Physical Work and Low Back Pain

Chiropractic: Heavy Physical Work and Low Back Pain.
Among Brazil's urban cleaning workers (drivers, trash collectors, maintenance workers, etc.), musculoskeletal pain -- and low back pain in particular -- is a major public health issue. Researchers interviewed 657 workers and found that 37% have experienced back pain lasting more than one week during the previous year, and of that group, 62.8% experienced back pain within the last seven days. Workers who described bending over and twisting as part of their job functions were much more likely to experience pain in one or more anatomical regions, as were workers who frequently worked overtime. Of note, workers who performed more dynamic and fewer repetitive movements on the job were less likely to experience back pain.
Brazilian Journal of Epidemiology, March 2014

Mental Attitude: Cynics at Higher Risk for Dementia.
Cynical, distrustful people may be at a higher risk of dementia, according to a new Finnish study. Researchers found that people with high levels of cynical distrust were three times more likely to develop dementia compared to people with low levels of cynicism. One possible explanation could be that individuals who are more wary of others may also be less socially active, which can increase their dementia risk.
Neurology, May 2014

Health Alert: Over 1 in 10 Elderly Injured by Outpatient Care.
According to new research, nearly 11% of Medicare patients are victims of medical injuries during outpatient care. The primary causes include receiving the wrong medication, an allergic reaction to a prescribed medication, or complications resulting from treatment.
Injury Prevention, May 2014

Diet: Mediterranean Diet May Prevent Childhood Obesity.
A new report finds that children who closely follow a diet rich in fish, nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables are 15% less likely to be overweight or obese in comparison with their peers who do not.
European Congress on Obesity, May 2014

Exercise: Bicycling Leads to Good Feelings.
Compared with all modes of transportation, people who ride their bicycles are the happiest, followed by automobile passengers and drivers.
Transportation, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Elevated Blood Pressure Number Determines Risks.
New research points to the type of heart risk individuals face based on which number of their blood pressure reading is high. Researchers found that an elevated systolic blood pressure (top number) was associated with an increased risk of bleeding strokes and stable angina while those with a higher diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) were more likely to be diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Lead investigator Dr. Eleni Rapsomaniki writes, "Our estimates provide vital new information that can be used to improve patient counseling and decision-making for people with hypertension, which are currently based mainly on the risks of heart attack and stroke, and will help to focus guidelines and doctors to the cardiovascular conditions that might be more common, and in which screening and treatments are more likely to have an effect."
The Lancet, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — More Pain-Free Days!

Chiropractic: More Pain-Free Days!
A randomized trial involving 400 chronic low back pain patients found patients who received a course of twelve spinal manipulation treatments experienced 22.9 more pain-free days and 19.8 more disability-free days over the next year compared with patients who received no treatment.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, June 2014

Mental Attitude: Stress Reduces Male Fertility.
Past studies have linked stress to a number of health problems including heart disease, asthma, obesity, and depression. A new study suggests that stress can also reduce male fertility. Researchers found that men who experienced two or more stressful life events over the previous year had lower sperm quality compared with men who did not experience any stressful life events. They also found that regardless of stress, jobless men had lower semen quality than those who were employed.
Fertility and Sterility, May 2014

Health Alert: Worldwide Obesity Rates Significantly Increased Over the Last 33 Years.
During the past three decades, there has been a significant increase in worldwide obesity rates with no significant decline noted in any country. Investigators found that over the previous 33 years, worldwide overweight and obesity rates for adults have increased 27.5%, while rates among children and adolescents increased by 47.1%.
Lancet, May 2014

Diet: Do You Eat White Bread?
According to new research, when white bread is a staple of an individual’s diet, they are 40% more likely to become overweight or obese compared with those who eat whole grain bread. The researchers conclude, "Consumption of white bread [of] two portions per day or more showed a significant direct association with the risk of becoming overweight or obese."
European Congress on Obesity, May 2014

Exercise: Helps Reduce Amphetamine Use.
In some regions of the United States, nearly 20-25% of substance abuse admissions are for amphetamine abuse. A study involving mice showed a relationship between increased physical activity and decreased consumption of available amphetamines. If this corresponds to human subjects, exercise may become a useful tool to help individuals recover from amphetamine drug abuse.
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, April 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Bad Sunburns While Young Tied to Higher Skin Cancer Risk.
A new report suggests that women who get five or more sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 have an 80% increased risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Besides melanoma, these groups of women also have a 68% greater risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Dr. Abrar Qureshi, professor and chair of the department of dermatology at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, explains, "Parents may need to be advised to pay more attention to protection from early-life sun exposure for their kids in order to reduce the likelihood of developing melanoma as they grow up. Older individuals should also be cautious with their sun exposure, because cumulative sun exposure increases skin cancer risk as well."
American Association for Cancer Research, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — Back Pain and Neck Pain are a Major Cause of Missed Work.

Chiropractic: Back Pain and Neck Pain are a Major Cause of Missed Work.
An evaluation of data concerning over 8,000 Spanish workers reveals a correlation between chronic neck and back pain, and missing one or more days of work for health-related issues. Individuals who reported having frequent neck and back pain were 44% more likely to be absent from work for more than 30 days out of the year.
Spine, May 2014

Mental Attitude: Bullied Teens Carry Weapons to School.
Bullied teens are 31 times more likely to bring weapons, such as guns and knives, to school compared with teens who have not been bullied, according to a new study. Lead investigator Dr. Lana Schapiro warns, "With estimates of more than 200,000 victims of bullying carrying a weapon to high school, more effective prevention efforts and intervention strategies need to be identified."
American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2014

Health Alert: Many Parents Not Following Recommended Sleep Practices for Babies.
Half of infants in some regions of the United States (US) aren’t being placed on their back during sleep despite the fact it would reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SIDS is responsible for more deaths among infants aged one month to one year old than any other cause, killing more than 2,000 babies in 2010 alone. Study author Dr. Sunah Hwang writes, "Although the precise cause of SIDS is still unknown, we do know that safe sleep practices, such as sleeping on the back, reduces the risk of infant death in the first year of life."
American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2014

Diet: Vitamin E May Prevent Brain Damage from Stroke.
Tocotreinol, a little-known type of vitamin E, may prevent or reduce brain damage during stroke. Researchers claim that tocotreinol increases the diameter of existing arteries in response to oxygen demand. It is this process that may prevent brain damage by offering a "collateral" blood supply. Study leader Dr. Cameron Rink adds, "We know that people who have good collaterals have better recovery from strokes. We think that tocotrienol helps improve the function of collaterals, which would offer someone better protection from an initial or secondary stroke." Dr. Rink further adds that one day vitamin E may be used as a common treatment for stroke prevention.
Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science, May 2014

Exercise: Yoga During Pregnancy Good for Health.
Stress during pregnancy can have negative effects on both mother and child, but a new study suggests that yoga could reduce the risk of developing anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Researchers analyzed questionnaires and performed stress hormone assessments on yoga participants and found that a single session of yoga reduced self-reported anxiety by 33% and stress hormone levels by 14%. They suggest yoga could help mothers and their children become healthier while reducing healthcare costs.
Depression and Anxiety, April 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Millions of Deaths Could be Prevented by Risk Factor Reduction.
A new report suggests that reducing six modifiable risk factors to specific target levels could prevent 37 million premature deaths over the next 15 years. Target levels for reducing risk factors include a 30-50% reduction of tobacco use, 10% reduction of alcohol consumption, 30% reduction in salt intake, 25% reduction in high blood pressure, and halting the rise of the obesity and diabetes prevalence. If all the targets are met, there would be a reduction in risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disease, cancers, and diabetes by 22% in men and 19% in women.
The Lancet, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — Heavy School Bags Contribute to Musculoskeletal Pain in Children.

Chiropractic: Heavy School Bags Contribute to Musculoskeletal Pain in Children.
A study of 532 Ugandan youths reveals that 35.4% of their musculoskeletal pain is associated with the weight of their schoolbags. Researchers recommend having lockers available to avoid long-term back pain issues among students.
BMC Research Notes, April 2014

Mental Attitude: ADHD Kids Often Suffer from Family Issues.
A new report reveals that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to come from a family background of poverty, divorce, community violence, and substance abuse. Study author Dr. Nicole Brown adds, "Knowledge about the prevalence and types of adverse experiences among children diagnosed with ADHD may guide efforts to address trauma in this population and improve ADHD screening, diagnostic accuracy and management."
American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2013

Health Alert: Global Nutrition Threatened by Rising CO2 Levels.
If rising carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations reach expected levels by 2050, researchers warn that global crops may have reduced nutritional levels of iron and zinc. If these nutrients are reduced, it may represent a significant health threat to the entire world population. Lead author Samuel Myers explains, "Humanity is conducting a global experiment by rapidly altering the environmental conditions on the only habitable planet we know. As this experiment unfolds, there will undoubtedly be many surprises. Finding out that rising CO2 threatens human nutrition is one such surprise."
Nature, May 2014

Diet: A Gluten-Free Diet During Pregnancy May Protect Offspring Against Type 1 Diabetes.
An animal study in Denmark has found that expectant rodents experienced a change in intestinal bacteria when fed a gluten-free diet. This change in intestinal bacteria appears to offer a protective effect against development of type 1 diabetes for both mother and offspring. Researchers are optimistic that these finding can be applied to humans.
Diabetes, April 2014

Exercise: Not Enough Disabled People Exercise.
Approximately one-half of the 21 million Americans with a disability do not exercise, which unfortunately jeopardizes their health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ileana Arias, principal deputy director at the CDC, adds, "We are very concerned about this, because working-age adults with disabilities who get no aerobic physical activity are 50 percent more likely to have cancer, diabetes, stroke, or heart disease than those who get the recommended amount of physical activity." Physical disabilities can be a significant barrier to exercise, but experts explain that depending on the disability, exercise options can include aquatic exercise, chair yoga, Tai Chi, wall push-ups, balance exercises, and gym ball exercises.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Breast Feeding Encourages Gut Bacteria in Children.
A study that tracked over 300 children during their first three years of life found that breastfeeding for longer periods encouraged beneficial bacteria to flourish in their digestive tracts. Senior author Tine Rask Licht concludes, "We have become increasingly aware of how crucially important a healthy gut microbial population is for a well-functioning immune system. Babies are born without bacteria in the gut, and so it is interesting to identify the influence dietary factors have on gut microbiota development in children's first three years of life."
Applied Environmental Microbiology, May 2014

Weekly Health Update — Parents Seek Alternative Care for Kids.

Chiropractic: Parents Seek Alternative Care for Kids.
Recent research suggests that about 60% of parents who have children with chronic neurological conditions have sought chiropractic, massage, and other complementary therapy treatments to help their children live a normal, pain-free life.
PLOS ONE, April 2014

Mental Attitude: Does Yawning Cool Down the Brain?
Australian researchers suggest that yawning might cool an overheated brain. Investigators found that contagious yawning was most prominent in the summer compared to the winter and most likely to occur when the temperature was about 68 degrees Fahrenheit (about 20 degrees Celsius). They suggest that cooling the brain boosts performance, so contagious yawning may be an evolutionary trait meant to improve alertness in groups of people.
Physiology & Behavior, May 2014

Health Alert: “Bad” Cholesterol Involved in Cancer Spread.
Researchers in Spain and Australia have identified “bad” cholesterol as a culprit in cancer metastasis. According to this new study, low density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol helps cancer cells un-stick from one another so they can more easily spread to other parts of the body. However, the presence of high density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol appears to help counter this activity.
Cell Reports, May 2014

Diet: Vitamin A and the Fight Against Breast Cancer.
Laboratory tests indicate that retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, may someday act as a weapon in the fight against breast cancer. Researchers exposed pre-cancerous breast cells to retinoic acid and observed the cells transform back into normal, healthy cells. However, cells that had already become cancerous were unchanged suggesting there may be a narrow window of opportunity for retinoic acid to be helpful in stopping the progression of breast cancer. Further research is needed to see if this approach is viable in animal -- and eventually human -- models.
International Journal of Oncology, March 2014

Exercise: Exercise Crucial for Women's Heart Health.
Lack of physical activity appears to be the strongest indicator of a woman's risk for heart disease, even more so than smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist and medical director of the Women's Heart Program at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, concludes, "If you want to do one thing to prevent heart disease, you should exercise. We need people to become more active again, and the way you can do that is to make it part of your life, like brushing your teeth."
British Journal of Sports Medicine, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Focus on High BMI to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk, Not Waist Circumference.
While a large waist circumference, regardless of body mass index (BMI), is associated with a greater risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, this does not seem to be the case for post-menopausal breast cancer. Using long-term data on nearly 29,000 women, researchers found no greater risk for breast cancer among post-menopausal women with a large waist circumference once BMI was taken into account. According to Dr. Mia Gadet, "The message is that if you have a high BMI, regardless if you are pear or apple shaped, you are at higher risk of breast cancer. Most prior studies on this issue looked at BMI or at waist circumference, but had not looked at them together. This study brings some clarity to the association between obesity and risk of breast cancer."
Cancer Causes & Control, June 2014

Weekly Health Update — Chronic Low Back Pain Associated with Depression and Fatigue.

Chiropractic: Chronic Low Back Pain Associated with Depression and Fatigue.
A survey of over 500 chronic low back pain patients who have been on work disability for between two and ten months shows that 69.7% report experiencing substantial fatigue as well. Those reporting fatigue are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms and are also more likely to still be in pain 3, 6, and 12 months after completing their initial survey.
Pain Medicine, April 2014

Mental Attitude: Premature Menopause Can Lead to Mental Decline.
According to a new study, premature menopause can increase a woman’s risk of mental decline in her later years. Menopause usually begins after age 50; however, premature menopause begins at or around age 40. In the study, the premature group was more likely to do poorly on verbal and visual memory tests and they also had a 35% higher risk of decline in psychomotor speed compared to women who began menopause after age 50. Further research is needed to address treatment options to reduce risks of mental decline in women who enter menopause at younger ages.
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2014

Health Alert: E-Cigarette Vapor Potentially Harmful.
A new report suggests that e-cigarette vapor produces tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, potentially causing or accelerating respiratory diseases. Investigators are unsure whether these chemicals are harmful if you inhale them, as safety research is only known regarding ingestion of these chemicals. The authors believe researchers need to come together and set standards for researching e-cigarettes, given that there are so many different liquids and devices available to the public.
HealthDay, May 2014

Diet: Fruits & Vegetables Lower Stroke Risk.
Research from the American Heart Association indicates that eating fruits and vegetables can reduce a person's risk of stroke. Investigators found stroke risk decreased 32% for every 200 grams of fruit a person consumed each day. Furthermore, stroke risk decreased 11% for every 200 grams of vegetables consumed each day.
Stroke, May 2014

Exercise: 40 Not Too Old to Start Exercising.
Men who start exercising after age forty are likely to experience the same long-term heart benefits as those who have exercised since early adulthood. Study author David Matelot adds, "It's never too late to change your way of life and get more physically active. This will always be beneficial for the heart and well-being. And there's no need for a high level of training for many hours a week. Using the stairs rather than the elevator, or gardening regularly, can also be beneficial."
European Society of Cardiology, May 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Free Radicals Not So Bad?
Free radicals can stimulate apoptosis, also referred to as programmed cell death. This may be a way to avoid a cell becoming cancerous or to destroy viruses that have taken over a cell. In some cases, investigators observed that free radical apoptosis reinforces cell defenses, meaning a potential increase in lifespan. According to senior author Dr. Siegfried Hekimi, "People believe that free radicals are damaging and cause aging, but the so-called 'free radical theory of aging' is incorrect. We have turned this theory on its head by proving that free radical production increases during aging because free radicals actually combat - not cause - aging. In fact, in our model organism we can elevate free radical generation and thus induce a substantially longer life."
Cell, May 2014

Weekly Health Update—Many Reasons to Choose Chiropractic Care.

Mental Attitude: Horses Ease Alzheimer's Symptoms.
A new study suggests that caring for horses is an activity that can ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Investigators observed 16 individuals with Alzheimer's disease and found that equine therapy elevated the participants' mood and reduced negative behaviors. Besides the interaction with the horses, the researchers noted that the peaceful countryside setting of the farm may have also contributed to the positive results.
Anthrozoös, March 2014

Health Alert: Obesity at Age 25 Increases Risk of Severe Late-Life Obesity.
Individuals who are obese by age 25 have a much greater risk of severe obesity later in life. Researchers found that men who are obese at age 25 are 23% more likely to be severely obese at age 35, while woman who are obese at age 25 have a 46.9% risk for severe obesity a decade later. Unfortunately, this places these individuals at a higher risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, May 2014

Diet: Junk Food Diets Prompt Laziness.
New animal-based research indicates that consistently eating processed foods may lead to obesity, inactivity, and feelings of lethargy. This appears contrary to some beliefs that laziness leads to obesity and suggests that a long-term pattern of eating junk food is to blame for obesity and its accompanying health problems. Lead researcher Dr. Aaron Blaisdell writes, “We are living in an environment with sedentary lifestyles, poor-quality diet, and highly processed foods that is very different from the one we are adapted to through human evolution. It is that difference that leads to many of the chronic diseases that we see today, such as obesity and diabetes."
Physiology and Behavior, April 2014

Exercise: Increasing Physical Activity Reduces Heart Attack Risk in Seniors.
A new study suggests that individuals 65 years of age and older can reduce their heart attack risk and improve their overall heart health by maintaining or increasing physical activity. Using data on nearly a thousand seniors, researchers found that those with the highest current levels of physical activity were 11% less likely to suffer a heart attack or sudden cardiac death than their least active peers during the five-year study. Lead researcher Dr. Doireann Maddock explains, "It's well worth getting into the habit of keeping active, as we know it can help reduce the risk of heart disease along with many other conditions."
Circulation, May 2014

Chiropractic: Many Reasons to Choose Chiropractic Care.
Skilled spinal manipulation performed by a chiropractor is a safe and effective treatment for spinal pain. Benefits include reduced pain, decreased medication use, faster results from physical therapy, and a reduced need for passive forms of treatment, like bed rest.
Orthopedics Today, February 2003

Wellness/Prevention: FDA Not Backing Aspirin for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Events.
After carefully examining available scientific data from major studies, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that even though daily low-dose aspirin can help ward of heat attack or stroke, it is not for everyone. The agency believes the case has yet to be made for using low-dose aspirin to prevent an initial heart attack or stroke. Bottom-line: If you have not had a heart attack or stroke, there is no known benefit of using low dose aspirin for prevention. However, people who have had a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular problems, daily aspirin therapy is worth considering.
Food and Drug Administration, May 2014

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – What Is It?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) basically occurs when pressure is applied to the median nerve as it travels through the wrist on the palm side resulting in numbness, tingling, pain, and later, weakness of the grip and pinch functions. But, the median nerve can be pinched at many other locations as it courses down from the neck to the hand, which is why we examine and treat the CTS patient from the neck down! The median nerve has been described as the “eye of the hand,” as it is one of the three major nerves formed from the brachial plexus-- that “highway” of nerves made up of the C5-T2 roots leaving the neck, merging together to eventually form the three main nerves of the arm. Because the median nerve function regulates pinch and grip strength, buttoning a shirt, writing a note, driving a car, and even sleeping are ALL affected by a median nerve pinch. But WHAT is CTS? Let’s take an “inside” look!

We know that fast, repetitive motion-related jobs like meat or fish packing plants, assembly line work, sewing occupations, and the like can cause CTS over time. Look at the palm side of your wrist and wiggle your fingers. Do you see ALL THE MOVEMENT that is occurring just before the wrist in the forearm? That motion is coming from the tendons, which like shoe strings, attach the forearm muscles to the fingers. Notice ALL the movement in your forearm muscles closer to the elbow – that’s a lot of motion! There are nine tendons that are covered by a lubricating sheath that help the fast moving tendons reduce friction, thus decreasing the chances for heat build up, swelling (inflammation), and subsequent pain and loss of function. But, there is a limit or threshold that the tendons and sheaths can withstand before they just can’t keep up. These nine tendons and sheaths are quite tightly packed together as they leave the forearm and enter the carpal tunnel.

The carpal tunnel is made up of eight small wrist bones called the “carpal bones,” and ANYTHING that makes that tunnel more narrow can effectively cause CTS. If we look at what happens INSIDE the tunnel in the CTS patient, the venous blood flow and nerve flow (called “axonal transport”) is blocked when the PRESSURE inside the tunnel occurs. We all know what it feels like when a blood pressure cuff is inflated on our arm – if it’s pumped up too high or left on too long, the arm REALLY HURTS! That’s because the blood can’t get past the inflated cuff and oxygen can’t get to our muscles and tissues past the cuff and IT CAUSES PAIN!

To give you an appreciation of the pressure difference between the normal vs. CTS wrist, normally, the pressure ranges between 2 and 10 mmHg. We pump up a blood pressure cuff to about 150-200 mmHg when we take blood pressure, so this is NOT MUCH! This 2-10 mmHg pressure increases when we change the position of our fingers, wrist and forearm with wrist extension (bending the hand backwards), causing the greatest pressure increase. This is why we fit the CTS patient with a wrist “cock-up” splint to be worn at night since you can’t control your wrist position when you sleep and any bent position increases the pressure and can wake you up due to numbness, tingling, pain prompting you to shake and flick your hands and fingers until they, “…wake up.” When CTS is present, the pressure inside the tunnel goes up exponentially, meaning NOT 2 or 3 times, but 6, 12, 24 times what is normal and even higher! Now, if you add wrist bending (extension > flexion), the pressure REALLY gets high and it doesn’t take long for the nerve pinch and blood loss to wake us up. We’ve previously talked about other conditions that can make developing CTS more common or make it worse like hypothyroid, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, and more. AGAIN, this is because an increase is pressure results from these conditions (increased swelling = increased pressure = increased symptoms). As chiropractors, we will guide and manage your care through the healing process of CTS using a conservative, NON-SURGICAL treatment approach – TRY THIS FIRST!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic Effective for Back Pain During Pregnancy.

Mental Attitude: The Gambler's Fallacy.
The gambler's fallacy is described as a situation when one outcome may seem more likely based on previous results in a game of chance, such as thinking a coin-flip has a greater than 50/50 chance of landing "heads" if the previous four flips landed tail side up. An experiment involving patients with damage to the part of the brain called the insula found that they do not succumb to the gambler's fallacy. This finding suggests that people who are addicted to gambling may have hyperactive activity in this area of the brain and if future studies confirm this, it may lead to a possible treatment for gambling addiction.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2014

Health Alert: Tamiflu & Relenza Not Effective for Flu.
The latest Cochrane Review reveals there is no solid evidence to support the effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza, commonly used medications to fight or prevent influenza symptoms. Dr. David Tovey, editor in chief at Cochrane, writes, "Initially thought to reduce hospitalizations and serious complications from influenza, the review highlights that Tamiflu is not proven to do this, and it also seems to lead to harmful effects that were not fully reported in the original publications. This shows the importance of ensuring that trial data are transparent and accessible." Similar results were found regarding Relenza.
Cochrane Systemic Review, April 2014

Diet: Junk Food Diets Prompt Laziness.
New animal-based research indicates that consistently eating processed foods may lead to obesity, inactivity, and feelings of lethargy. This appears contrary to some beliefs that laziness leads to obesity and suggests that a long-term pattern of eating junk food is to blame for obesity and its accompanying health problems. Lead researcher Dr. Aaron Blaisdell writes, “We are living in an environment with sedentary lifestyles, poor-quality diet, and highly processed foods that is very different from the one we are adapted to through human evolution. It is that difference that leads to many of the chronic diseases that we see today, such as obesity and diabetes."
Physiology and Behavior, April 2014

Exercise: Seeing Nature Helps Lower Blood Pressure!
Investigators have found that seeing nature-related imagery while riding a stationary bike can result in lower blood pressure post-exercise than working out without such stimuli.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, April 2014

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Effective for Back Pain During Pregnancy.
A new study confirms that chiropractic care to treat low back pain during pregnancy is both safe and effective. The study involved 115 pregnant patients with low back or pelvic pain who received chiropractic care. Fifty-two percent noticed improvements within one week of starting care. The percentage increased to 70% after one month and 85% after three months. Eighty-eight percent of patients reported improved back and pelvic pain post-delivery one year after the start of the study. These findings suggest that chiropractic care during pregnancy can provide women with lasting health benefits.
Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, April 2014

Wellness/Prevention: More Prevention Needed Regarding Teen Pregnancy.
Though births to teens ages 15 to 17 years of age have decreased in recent years, girls in the United States are still giving birth to an estimated 1,700 babies per week. Investigators for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 73% of teens in this age group (15-17 years old) have not yet had sex. However, they found that among the teens in this age group who are sexually active, 80% had not had any formal sex education before they had sex for the first time. CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden adds, "Efforts to prevent teen childbearing need to focus on evidence-based approaches to delaying sexual activity and increasing use of the most effective methods of contraception for those teens who are sexually active."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, April 2014

Whiplash Self-Care: Part 1

Whiplash is a condition that can occur from MANY causes – in fact, anything that results in a sudden change in the head/neck position. Usually, there is a rapid acceleration that injuries the soft tissues around the neck area by stretching them beyond their limits. Hence, the more accurate terms for whiplash are, “cervical acceleration-deceleration” or CAD as it describes the mechanism of the injury and “whiplash associated disorders” (WAD) describing the degree of injury.

Most commonly, when we think about whiplash, we immediately envision a motor vehicle collision (MVC), but prior to the invention of the automobile, the term “railroad spine” was coined to describe injuries to the neck from crashes that occurred between trains. Since then, due to pilots landing planes on aircraft carriers, sports injuries, and the rise of the automobile, this once rare condition has affected MOST of us at some point in time!

Today’s topic will focus on self-care. What can you and I do for ourselves WHEN we suffer a CAD injury? Since there are different levels of injury severity, keep in mind that EACH CASE IS UNIQUE and we will ONLY be discussing general options. So ALWAYS let your symptoms guide you in the process of care – that is, if you feel a sharp, piercing/stabbing, activity or movement stopping type of pain, STOP!!! Don’t further injure your tissues!!! We will discuss a common WAD II injury (soft-tissue injury limiting motion but not injuring nerves) and we’ll look the acute and sub-acute stages of the injury.

Stage 1 - ACUTE: The inflammatory phase (up to 72 hours). ICE is necessary to decrease swelling (inflammation). Limit motion but try NOT to use a collar unless you have no choice as even small movements that avoid the sharp/knife-like pain are better than no movement at all. A collar may be needed when driving (especially if the roads are bumpy)! Anti-inflammatory herbs like ginger, turmeric, boswellia, bioflavonoid, and others reduce inflammation WITHOUT irritating the stomach, liver, kidneys, and will NOT inhibit the chemicals needed for healing (like NSAIDs do!). Chiropractic care SHOULD begin ASAP after an injury. We may only use gentle manual traction and/or mobilization, also staying within reasonable pain boundaries. It’s been well proven that early movement is best!

Stage 2 - SUB-ACUTE: The repair phase (72 hours to 14 weeks). Ice can continue if it helps control pain. You can also alternate ice and heat at 10/5/10/5/10 minutes, starting and ending with ice (it “pumps” the tissues). Cervical range of motion (ROM) exercises with LIGHT resistance (use 1 or 2 fingers against the head and push in a forward, backward, sideways, and rotating directions first with “isometrics” – not moving the head, and when tolerated, “isotonic” – moving the head against the LIGHT pressure applied in BOTH directions within the range that avoids sharp/knife-like pain. Movement, strength, pain, and coordination are ALL better managed when light resistance + motion is used vs. not moving (isometrics). Self-applied methods of performing “myofascial release” (which we will teach you) include: Self-massage, the use of a tennis ball and/or foam roll, the use of a TheraCane or Intracell (Exercise Stick), and others. During this repair phase, chiropractic adjustments REALLY help!!! We will continue this discussion next month!!!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Hand & Practice.

Mental Attitude: Working Memory Boosted by Green Tea.
Consuming green tea may enhance cognitive function, especially a person's working memory. Researchers found that study participants who consumed a beverage that included green tea extract showed increased connectivity between the right superior parietal lobule and the frontal cortex of the brain. This action correlated with enhanced performance on working memory tasks. This finding may lead to new treatment for disorders involving cognitive impairments, such as dementia.
Psychopharmacology, March 2014

Health Alert: Half the Population of the Americas at Risk for Insect-Borne Disease.
Approximately 50% of people living in the Western Hemisphere are at risk of one or more diseases carried by ticks, flies, mosquitoes, and other vectors. Some of these diseases include West Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue fever, malaria, chagas, and schistosomiasis. Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) adds, “Our region has achieved many successes in controlling vector-borne diseases. However, this success is being threatened by the expansion of mosquitoes and other vectors into new habitats and by the emergence of insecticide and drug resistance. PAHO and its partners are today calling for stepped-up action in the fight against vector-borne diseases in the Americas."
Pan American Health Organization, April 2014

Diet: Eating Legumes Keeps Away Bad Cholesterol.
According to a new report, just one serving of legumes per day can reduce a person's low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The study found that people who ate 3/4 cups of non-oil-seed legumes each day experienced a 5% reduction of LDL cholesterol. Unfortunately, some participants experienced side effects from eating legumes such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and constipation. Co-author Dr. John Sievenpiper believes that the 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol correlates to a 5-6% risk reduction for major vascular events.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, April 2014

Exercise: Exercise Curtails COPD Hospitalization.
New research suggests that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who exercise at a moderate to vigorous level have a lower risk of hospital readmission within 30 days compared with those who are inactive. Researchers found that patients with COPD who exercised 150 minutes a week or more had a 34% lower risk of readmission within 30 days compared to those who were inactive. The finding suggests exercising three to five times a week will help improve COPD symptoms, physical functioning, and quality of life. Similar results published earlier in 2014 support this finding.
Annals of the American Thoracic Society, April 2014

Chiropractic: Hand & Practice.
The word “Chiropractic” combines the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (practice) to describe a treatment done by hand. Hands-on therapy with an emphasis on spinal adjustment is central to chiropractic care. Chiropractic is based on the premise that the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) affects a person's health.
National Institutes of Health, February 2012

Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Insufficiency Increases Fracture Risk.
Women with low blood levels of vitamin D over a five-year period had a greater risk of osteoporosis-related fracture over the following decade.
Osteoporosis International, April 2014

Fibromyalgia “(More) Facts”

Fibromyalgia (FM) has been described as being a “myth” as well as “real” (and probably everything in between the two). This is a VERY controversial disorder that some doctors push under the rug by saying, “….there is no such thing,” while others stake their reputation on it. So with this wide variance in attitude and beliefs about FM, what ARE the facts?

Fibromyalgia has been defined as, “…a complex chronic pain disorder that affects an estimated 10 million Americans” (ref: National Fibromyalgia Association). Women are affected the greatest, but it can affect men and children as well. This condition can be subtle, hardly interfering with life and all of its activities to being totally disabling, disallowing participation in work and the most desired aspects of daily living.

DIAGNOSIS: In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) introduced the diagnostic criteria for FM. This includes a patients history of “wide spread pain” for at least three months, AND pain in 11 or more of the 18 specifiic tender points using 4 kg of pressure. Due to the significant controversy about the reality of the disease (as stated in the opening paragraph), ONLY a physician knowledgable about FM should make the diagnosis. Along with this diagnostic responsibility, ALL other conditions having similar presenting symptoms as FM, “…must be ruled out” BEFORE making the diagnosis of FM.

SYMPTOMS: Though the hallmark of FM is widespread, generalized pain (in all four body quadrants), a number of other symptoms are common amongst FM sufferers. Some of these include fatigue (moderate to severe), sleep disorders, brain fog, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches (including migraine), anxiety, depression, and environmental sensitivities. Studies suggest that there is a “neuroendocrine” (nerves and hormones) abnormality that may contribute to the FM symptoms.

CAUSES: Research has found a genetic link, as FM is OFTEN seen in several family members (among siblings and/or mothers and their children). “Secondary fibromyalgia” arises AFTER other health-related issues occur such as physical trauma (like an acute injury or illness), which can act as a “trigger” for initiating FM. Recently, more attention has been directed to the central nervous system as the “underlying mechanism” for developing FM. Here, the threshold or level of a stimulus that triggers a painful response is found to be much lower in FM patients compared to a healthy group of people (this is called “central sensitization”). Thus, a pain response is amplified in the FM patient due to this lowered threshold of pain tolerance.

TREATMENT: As there is NO KNOWN cure for FM, symptomatic support and functional improvement are two important primary goals when treating patients with FM. In the medical world, there are MANY drugs that have been utilized for FM (such as sleep aids, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory, analgesics, and anti-depressants / -anxiety meds). ALTERNATIVE therapies include massage therapy, chiropractic, myofascial release, acupuncture, herbal supplements, yoga, and other exercise approaches such as swimming and/or simply walking are popular care options for many FM patients. Increasing rest, pacing daily activities (to avoid “over-use”), stress management (relaxation tapes, exercise, and nutritional support can ALL HELP reduce FM symptoms and improve quality of life!

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

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic Care Improves Type I Diabetes.

Mental Attitude: Depression Common After Surviving Intensive Care.
A new report reveals that one-third of patients experience depression after leaving intensive care. Researchers note that this depression typically expressed itself as physical rather than psychological symptoms such as weakness, appetite change, and fatigue. Study leader Dr. James Jackson explains, "The physical symptoms of depression are often resistant to standard treatment with antidepressant drugs and we need to determine how best to enhance recovery with a new focus on physical and occupational rehabilitation."
Lancet Respiratory Medicine, April 2014

Health Alert: Not in the Pool!
Experts warn that urinating in a swimming pool can pose a serious health risk. Researchers have found that uric acid in urine can generate volatile disinfection byproducts in the pool when it interacts with chlorine. The toxic compounds of concern are cyanogens chloride and trichloramine. Inhalation of cyanogens chloride can negatively affect the cardiovascular system, the pulmonary system, the central nervous system, and can potentially be fatal. Trichloramine is a compound linked to acute lung injury through exposure to chlorine-based disinfectants. The findings support the need to encourage proper pool hygiene.
Environmental Science & Technology, February 2014

Diet: Drinking Milk Slows Knee Arthritis in Women.
New research suggests that osteoarthritis of the knee slows in women who regularly consume low-fat or fat-free milk compared with their peers who do not. Though the study found an association between milk intake and knee health, it did not prove cause-and effect. Further research is needed to determine the role of milk in the delay of osteoarthritis progression, but the findings do suggest the milk consumption plays an important role in bone health.
Arthritis Care & Research, April 2014

Exercise: Over-Training Counterproductive.
Over-training occurs when you do not allow your body to adjust, adapt, and recuperate from the training regimen you take part in and can be detrimental to realizing your fitness goals. Signs of over-training include decreased performance, increased resting heart rate and blood pressure, increased muscle fatigue, gastro-intestinal problems, depression, irritability, apathy, and low self-esteem. Experts recommend starting slowly with your exercise routine and working with a trainer to assess your fitness level and determine a more personalized training program.
American Society of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, April 2014

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Care Improves Type I Diabetes.
A four-year-old child with type I diabetes was able to better control her blood sugar after undergoing two months of chiropractic care. The patient's hemoglobin A1C decreased from 7.2% to 6.5% and her insulin use decreased from 15 units to 11 units per day. This case study supports the optimizing effects of chiropractic care on function throughout the body.
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health, November 2013

Wellness/Prevention: Alcohol is a Leading Cause of Preventable Cancer Death.
Scientists from the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston University School of Public Health report that alcohol consumption leads to about 1 in 28.6 cancer deaths in the United States, including 15% of all breast cancer deaths. Although heavy drinking is linked to the greatest risk for alcohol-related cancer death, even 1.5 drinks per day or less accounts for nearly 30% of all alcohol-related cancer fatalities. Lead study author Dr. Timothy Naimi adds, "The relationship between alcohol and cancer is strong, but is not widely appreciated by the public and remains underemphasized even by physicians… Alcohol is a big preventable cancer risk factor that has been hiding in plain sight."
American Journal of Public Health, April 2013

Headaches: How Does Chiropractic Help?

Headaches (HA) can be tremendously disabling, forcing sufferers away from work or play into a dark, quiet room to minimize any noise and light that intensifies the pain. According to the National Headache Foundation, there are over 45 million Americans who suffer from chronic, re-occurring headaches, of which 28 million are of the migraine variety. Also, approximately 20% of children and adolescents deal with headaches that can interfere significantly with their daily routines. There are many different types of headaches and many sub-types within the main categories. Here are a few: Tension HA (also, called cervicogenic HA), migraine, mixed headache syndrome (a mixture of migraine and tension HAs), cluster (less common but the most severe), sinus headaches, acute headaches, hormone headaches, chronic progressive headaches (traction or inflammatory HAs), and MANY more! Just “GOOGLE” “headache classification” for the daunting list! Let’s take a look at how chiropractic manages these headaches!

According to a study completed in 2005, a review of the published literature revealed good evidence that intensity and frequency of HAs are indeed helped by chiropractic intervention. They limited their review to cervicogenic headaches and spinal manipulation and noted the need for larger scale studies. The well-respected Cochrane database reported spinal manipulation (SM) as an effective treatment option with short-term benefits similar to amitriptyline, a commonly prescribed medication for migraine HA patients.

For cervicogenic HA, the combination of neck exercises and SM was found to be effective in both the short- and long-term, and SM was superior to massage or placebo (sham or “fake” manipulation). Regarding the question of treatment frequency of SM plus up to two modalities (heat and soft tissue therapy), a preliminary study found that when comparing patients receiving one, three, or four visits per week for three weeks, those receiving 9-12 treatments during the three weeks had the most benefit. Regarding the questions, “what is affected by SM” and, “why does SM work” for cervicogenic HA patients, a study describes the intimate relationship between the upper cervical nerve roots (C1-3), the trigeminal (cranial nerve V), the spinal accessory (cranial nerve XI), and the vascular system. Inflammation within these structures and their relationship with the trapezius and SCM muscles help us understand the “why” and “how” of SM and referred pain pattern to the face and head in those with cervicogenic HAs. Realizing this is a bit “technical”, feel free to GOOGLE these structures and you’ll appreciate the close proximity they have to each other and how adjustments, or SM, applied to the upper cervical spine can affect this region. It has also been reported that SM and strengthening of the deep neck flexor muscles benefits the cervicogenic HA patient. Many HA sufferers have combinations of symptoms including dizziness, neck pain, concentration “fog”, fatigue, and others, which were found to also respond to SM applied to the upper cervical spine. One study reported a 36% reduction in pain killer medication use in a group of cervicogenic headache patients receiving SM but no reduction in the patient group receiving soft-tissue therapy. The list of research studies goes on and on! So WHAT are you waiting for? TRY CHIROPRACTIC for your headache management!!!

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for headaches, we would be honored to render our services.

The “Aging” Lower Back – Part 2

Last month, we started a series on low back pain (LBP) in the geriatric population, and we discussed osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative disk disease (DDD). As reported last month, this group of conditions often co-exist in this population, so we will continue this discussion this month…

A unique condition associated with OA and DDD is called “spinal stenosis” (SS). Stenosis means “narrowing,” and it applies to two locations in the spine: 1) The holes through which the nerves in our neck and back exit out of the sides of the spine (called “intervertebral foramen” or, IVF); and, 2) The “spinal canal” through which the spinal cord travels. When narrowing occurs on the sides of the spine where the nerves exit, it’s called, “lateral spinal stenosis.” When the spinal canal narrows, it’s called “central spinal stenosis.” Our spinal cord starts up in the neck as an extension off the brain stem and usually ends at the junction between the middle and lower back (around T12/L1) with the “cauda equina” (which literally means, “horses tail”) and extends downward.

The cauda equina is made up of many nerves that travel down and exit out the sides of the lumbar spine (through the IVFs) and sacrum (tail bone) and transfer information (motor and sensory) to and from our legs and brain. When the size of the canal through which these nerves travel close down or narrow enough, sufferers will initially start feeling vague symptoms of leg heaviness or fatigue after walking for 30 or more minutes. As years pass and the IVFs or central canal become gradually more narrow, it may get to the point where a person can only walk a short distance because their legs, “…just won’t move.” A classic complaint of SS is only being able to walk for four to five minutes prior to needing to sit down for 30 seconds to a few minutes (usually five minutes at the most) after which time the leg complaints resolve and the process repeats itself. When the nerves are compressed in these tight canals and the legs become heavy and hard to move, the term, “neurogenic claudication” is used. Another “classic” finding of SS is that RELIEF occurs when the patient bends forward, such as on a grocery cart or, simply stopping and bending over can be immediately relieving in many cases.

Chiropractic adjustments and other techniques are often very helpful in these cases if it is not too far advanced. The good news is that it usually helps, so prior to considering surgery or injections for this, give chiropractic a try – it’s less invasive and safer. We can always refer you to the next step if the condition becomes too advanced and/or if the results become less satisfying.

Compression fractures are another common cause of back pain in the elderly population. They're often caused by minor trauma in the presence of poor bone density (osteoporosis) which accounts for about 700,000 of the 1.5 million osteoporotic fractures. Interestingly, many patients do not know what they did to cause these fractures so only 25-30% actually go to doctors and have this positively diagnosed (by x-ray). Treatment varies depending on what the percentage of fracture occurred (a little vs. a lot), and in unstable cases, a procedure called kyphoplasty (where cement is injected into the collapsed vertebral body) may be appropriate. As chiropractors, we can help this population by offering nutritional counseling to improve bone density and often provide symptomatic relief with adjustments (low force types) and other modalities.

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Increasing Reports of Pain Among College Students.

Mental Attitude: Good News if You are Obsessive-Compulsive.
Research that involved questioning nearly 800 university students from sixteen countries shows that 94% of people experience unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, and/or impulses. These findings confirm that these thoughts are extremely common, which can reassure obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients that they are not that different from everyone else in this regard. Co-author Dr. Adam Radomsky explains, "This study shows that it's not the unwanted, intrusive thoughts that are the problem - it's what you make of those thoughts. And that's at the heart of our cognitive and behavioral interventions for helping people overcome OCD."
Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder, April 2014

Health Alert: Drug-Resistant Germs Found on Cutting Boards!
Swiss scientists analyzed cutting boards from hospital cafeterias and private home kitchens after they were used to cut poultry but before the boards were washed. They found that 6.5% of hospital cutting boards and 3.5% of household cutting boards were contaminated with drug-resistant E. coli bacteria. This could pose a major health risk if the cutting boards are reused before being properly disinfected or if any food exposed to the cutting boards is not cooked at high enough temperatures to kill any bacterial contamination.
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, April 2014

Diet: Risk of Food Poisoning Higher in Restaurants.
Over the course of a decade in the United States (US), more people contracted food poisoning as a result of eating at a restaurant than eating at home. During this time, more than 1,600 restaurant-related food poisoning outbreaks sickened over 28,000 people while nine hundred food poisoning outbreaks were linked to homes, which affected over 13,000 individuals. Fortunately, the study found that food borne illness has decreased by 42% from 2002 to 2011.
Center for Science in the Public Interest, April 2014

Exercise: Does Specializing in One Sport Ensure Future Success?
Contrary to what some parents and coaches believe, researchers have found no evidence that athletes were more successful at earning a college scholarship or in starting a professional career if they only played one sport starting at a very young age. It appears that most of today's successful athletes enjoyed multiple sports as children and waited until their teens to focus on only one sport.
American Society of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, April 2014

Chiropractic: Increasing Reports of Pain Among College Students.
A comparison of survey data from Finnish university students taken in 2000 and 2012 shows an increasing trend of musculoskeletal complaints among that population. Researchers report that 29% of students reported dealing with neck and shoulder-related pain on a weekly basis in 2012 compared with 25% in 2000. Low back pain complaints increased from 10% to 14%, limb and joint pain increased from 7% to 8%, and temporomandibular joint pain increased from 4% to 5%.
European Journal of Pain, March 2014

Wellness/Prevention: Better “Bedside Manner” Affects Patients' Health.
A review of 13 clinical trials has found that doctors who have been given training to improve their people skills have patients who respond more favorably in efforts to lose weight, lower their blood pressure, or manage their pain. Dr. Alan Christensen, a professor of psychology at the University of Iowa, adds, “It's important to be able to demonstrate that clinicians can learn to change how they interact with patients, and that it affects health outcomes."
PLOS ONE, April 2014

The Many Faces of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) was first reported in the late 1800’s and the first surgery was noted in 1933. In the beginning, CTS surgery was rarely performed, reportedly because the nerve pinch was present somewhere before the median nerve reached the wrist or carpal tunnel. In brief, possible compression sites include the cervical nerve roots (C5-7), the brachial plexus, thoracic outlet, above the elbow, in the proximal and/or mid forearm, and finally at the wrist/carpal tunnel.

Estimating the frequency of CTS is challenging due to the fact that the pinch or entrapment may include more than one area before the wrist resulting in double and multiple crush syndromes. One European study reported the incidence of CTS at 5.8% in women and 0.6% in men while another reported 3.4% in the United States. Even the causation of CTS is all over the board. For example, the annual incidence of CTS in automobile workers ranges between 1-10%, while in a fish processing plant, it was reported to be as high as 73%! To make this even more challenging, the cause of CTS is commonly associated with other conditions such as diabetes and pregnancy. In diabetics, CTS ranges between 14% and 30% and those who are pregnant have a 2% incidence. Even harder to report is the incidence of median nerve pinching proximal to the wrist as this ranges between as little as 1% to as high as 75% for pronator tunnel syndrome in already symptomatic women. Gender is also a factor as women are reported to be four times more likely to develop CTS than men. If there is NO other condition associated with CTS, the term “idiopathic” is applied, and this reportedly occurs 43% of the time.

Another issue making CTS a challenge to diagnose is the many risk factors associated with it, and sometimes studies are published that contradict one another about the possible risk factors. There are studies that report CTS is more likely to occur with conditions including: 1) Jobs or activities associated with wrist flexion or extension; 2) Hysterectomy without ovary removal; 3) Obesity; and 4) Varicosities in men. Some studies indicate risk criteria such as: 1) Use of birth control pills; 2) Age at menopause; 3) Diabetes; 4) Thyroid dysfunction; 5) Rheumatism; 6) Typing; and, 7) Pinch grasping. One study reported the highest incidence to occur in those with previous wrist fracture (Colles’ fracture), and common conditions included rheumatoid arthritis, hormonal agents or ovary removal, diabetes, and pregnancy. Another study reported obesity and hypothyroid as being risk factors, but not all studies support that theory. Certain medications have been reported to be associated with higher CTS risk including: 1) Insulin, 2) Sulfonylureas (diabetes meds); 3) Metformin; and 4) Thyroxin.

As doctors of chiropractic, we perform a thorough history, examination, and offer MANY non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical ways of treating CTS. Some of these approaches include: 1) Joint and soft tissue manipulation of the neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand; 2) Wrist splinting, especially at night; 3) Vitamin B6 and anti-inflammatory nutrients; 4) Home exercises for the neck, arm and hand; 5) Work station/ergonomic evaluations; 6) Dietary counseling for various conditions listed previously; 7) Co-management with primary care, rheumatology, neurology, orthopedics, and others.

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.

Weekly Health Update—Chiropractic: Research Supports Chiropractic Care.

Mental Attitude: Facebook Photos Cause Anxiety and Eating Disorders.
A new report reveals that college women who spend more time on Facebook than their peers exhibit a higher frequency of appearance-focused behaviors and report more eating pathologies. The study's authors explain, "Facebook merges powerful peer influences with broader societal messages that focus on the importance of women's appearance into a single platform that women carry with them throughout the day. As researchers and clinicians attempt to understand and address risk factors for eating disorders, greater attention is needed to the emerging role of social media in young people's lives."
International Journal of Eating Disorders, March 2014

Health Alert: FDA Clears First Device to Prevent Migraines.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted STX-MED, a Belgian company, permission to begin marketing a headband-like, battery-powered device called Cefaly that can be worn to prevent migraines. The device is positioned in the center of the forehead and applies an electric current to the skin to stimulate branches of the trigeminal nerve, which has been associated with migraine headaches. Its developers believe it is in an important step in managing migraines.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, March 2014

Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Children's Sleep.
A new study suggests that higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA in children are associated with better sleep, less bedtime resistance, less anxiety about sleep, and less waking during the night. According to the authors of the study, omega-3 blood levels in seven to nine-year-olds are alarmingly low which may lead to poor sleep and problems with both behavior and learning.
Journal of Sleep Research, March 2014

Exercise: Just Do It.
Regular physical activity/exercise is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. It can help control your weight, lower your risk for heart disease, lower your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, lower your risk for some cancers, strengthen your bones and muscles, improve your mental health and mood, improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, and increase your chance of living longer."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2011

Chiropractic: Research Supports Chiropractic Care.
Commentary by Dr. Scott Halderman of the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine in response to an evidence report on the effectiveness of manual therapies, including spinal manipulation: "There was a time, not long ago, when there was little or no evidence to support the practice of manipulation that is the mainstay of chiropractic practice… There has, however, been a rapid growth in the number of clinical trials that have studied the effectiveness of manipulation, mobilization, and massage over the past 20 years and… there is now little dispute amongst knowledgeable scientists that manipulation is of value in the management of back pain, neck pain, and headaches that make up 90% or more of all patients who seek chiropractic care."
Chiropractic & Osteopathy, February 2010

Wellness/Prevention: TVs in Bedrooms Linked to Childhood Obesity.
A recent report reveals that children who have a televisions in their bedroom are much more likely to be overweight. Researchers hypothesize that bedroom televisions may disrupt a child's sleep pattern and past studies have shown that reduced sleep or poor sleep quality may be a cause of weight gain in children. The authors add that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against children having televisions in their bedroom.
JAMA Pediatrics, March 2014

Whiplash Anatomy

Whiplash is an injury commonly associated with motor vehicle collisions (MVC) caused by a rapid forward and backward “whipping” of the neck. What varies between each case is the degree of injury and what anatomical parts of the neck are actually injured. Let’s take a look at the spine so we can better understand where the pain actually comes from…

The cervical spine is made up of seven moving vertebrae. The top vertebra (C1) is called the atlas and is shaped like a ring. This ring shape allows the head to rotate left and right so we can check traffic, carrying on conversation with someone sitting off to the side, and so on. It pivots around a peg called the “dens” of C2, or the axis, and the function of these first two vertebrae is very important. This is because the upper most three nerves that exit through this part of the cervical spine innervate the head and dysfunction here may be the cause of some headaches. Chiropractic adjustments concentrate a great deal on restoring function to this area. The C4-6 vertebrae make up the most mobile region of the spine in the forward and backwards directions. Generally, the greater the mobility, the lesser the stability, and because of this, injury to this area is quite common. We often see arthritis in this region first and we focus on keeping the areas that are less mobile (areas above and below C4-6) as mobile as possible. The upper back/lower neck area includes the rib/vertebrae joints, which are also commonly involved in whiplash injuries. Chiropractic adjustments applied to this region also help to restore function and mobility. The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae and includes the rib cage as well as the shoulder blades (scapulae). This area is sometimes neglected during treatment as the main focus is often placed on the more painful areas of injury like the neck. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae and is also frequently overlooked as an injured area due to the distance away from the neck. However, seat belts frequently injure the breast, chest, mid-back, and/or low back regions.

There are several tissues that could be injured. The ligaments — the tough, non-elastic tissue that holds bone to bone — function to maintain stability between the vertebrae. The articular capsule is also made of ligaments and is a frequently injured area, which generates pain with movement of the head and neck. Muscles and the tendon attachments are elastic and function to move the structures. Stability is facilitated by good muscle tone and strength and is a strong focus of treatment. Injury to these structures are called, “…soft tissue injuries,” and make up the majority of whiplash associated disorders (WAD II category).

The intervertebral disks are made up of a fibroelastic cartilage on the outside and a more liquid-like center that functions as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Injury to the disk includes tears, cracks, and/or fissures where the liquid center part can migrate through and can rupture. Injury to the nervous tissues includes the free nerve endings when the articular capsule is “sprained.” Nerve root injuries are most commonly “pinched” or compressed by a “ruptured disk” and send pain, numbness, and/or muscle weakness to specific areas of the arm and/or hand. These injuries are classified as WAD III injuries and usually carry a worse prognosis than WAD II injuries.

Determining which tissues are injured, managing the acute, subacute, and chronic stages of healing and facilitating self-management strategies are the primary goals of chiropractic treatment of the whiplash injured patient.

We realize you have a choice in whom 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 requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.