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Healthy Life Newsletter May 2015
Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have introduced the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to phase-in chiropractic at all major VA medical facilities over several years. You, too, can help ensure the essential services provided by doctors of chiropractic are available to the brave men and women who served our country by simply clicking the link below to urge your senators to cosponsor this bill!
To contact your senators, click here. Thank you!
http://cqrcengage.com/aca/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=78697
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The following research reports are taken from The Wellness Report
By Donald M. Petersen, Jr.at http://blog.toyourhealth.com/wrblog/
Vitamin D for Kid’s Better Breathing
An important study examined how the lack of sufficient vitamin D impacts the lung function in children. Researchers tested children ages 5-18 and found that “the mean forced vital capacity (breathing in) was 53.4 mL, and the mean forced expiratory volume (breathing out) in 1 second was 48.2 mL lower for children with insufficient serum 25(OH)D (vitamin D) levels compared with those with sufficient 25(OH)D vitamin D) levels.” The conclusion is that the “results demonstrate a significant relationship between insufficient serum vitamin D levels and worse lung function in children in the community with a suggested dose-response effect.” One more reason to insure your kids get the nutrition they need.
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Mobile Phones & Brain Tumors?
The issue of whether mobile phones can increase your risk of a brain tumor is still being debated. A recent study from the journal Pathophysiology found that “mobile phone use increased the risk of glioma” (a very common type of brain/central nervous system tumor) by 30%.
Like many innovations, the dangers are often times only revealed after years or even decades of use. Until the science is conclusive, the best bet is to use your cell phone away from your head as much as possible. While the benefits of doing so are not yet known, it doesn’t hurt to do what you can to offset any potential risks.
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Gardening: Pull Weeds...Not Your Back
Now that spring is here, the weather is warming up and leaves are turning green, many people will spend more time outside planting bulbs, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. Gardening can provide a great workout, but with all the bending, twisting, reaching and pulling, your body may not be ready for the challenge.
A warm-up and cool-down period is as important in gardening as it is for any other physical activity. Performing simple stretches will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness. Try this:
· Before stretching for any activity, breathe in and out, slowly and rhythmically; do not bounce or jerk your body, and stretch as far and as comfortably as you can. Do not follow the "no pain, no gain" rule. Stretching should not be painful. While sitting, prop your heel on a stool or step, keeping the knees straight. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of the thigh, or the hamstring muscle. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Do this once more and repeat with the other leg.
· Stand up, balance yourself, and grab the front of your ankle from behind. Pull your heel toward your buttocks and hold the position for 15 seconds. Do this again and repeat with the other leg.
· While standing, weave your fingers together above your head with the palms up. Lean to one side for 10 seconds, then to the other. Repeat this stretch three times.
· Do the "Hug your best friend" stretch. Wrap your arms around yourself and rotate to one side, stretching as far as you can comfortably go. Hold for 10 seconds and reverse. Repeat two or three times.
Finally, be aware of your body technique, body form and correct posture while gardening. Kneel, don't bend, and alternate your stance and movements as often as possible to keep the muscles and body balanced.
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http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=2110
Acetaminophen: A Poor Choice for Relieving Your Low Back Pain
Acetaminophen (the main ingredient in tylenol and other over-the-counter painkillers) is the most popular pain reliever in the U.S., accounting for an estimated 27 billion annual doses as of 2009. With 100,000-plus hospital visits a year by users, it's also the most likely to be taken inappropriately.
In fact, improper use, coupled with the drug's narrow safety margin, means "a large fraction of users [are] close to a toxic dose in the ordinary course of use," according to the Food and Drug Administration.
But for the sake of discussion, let's ignore the safety issues for a moment. Is acetaminophen an effective pain reliever in the first place? Not for low back pain and pain attributable to knee / hip osteoarthritis, conclude the authors of a recent meta-analysis. The just-published review of 13 randomized trials has yielded "high-quality evidence" that paracetamol (acetaminophen) does not reduce pain intensity or disability, and does not improve quality of life, in the short term for people experiencing LBP; and provides only "minimal, short-term benefit" for people suffering from hip or knee pain caused by OA, stating that "the small effects ... are not likely to be meaningful for clinicians or patients."
Back to the safety issues surrounding acetaminophen, which the meta-analysis did little to dilute. According to the review researchers, "high-quality" evidence suggests paracetamol use results in a fourfold risk of an abnormal liver function test. Not surprising, since acetaminophen misuse (overdose) is now the most common cause of acute liver failure (exceeding all other medications combined) and the second most common cause of liver failure requiring transplantation.
In fact, the FDA has mandated that all acetaminophen-containing prescription products feature a "black box" warning (the administration's strongest safety statement) noting an overdose can cause liver failure and even death; and have been urged to place similar language on OTC acetaminophen products.
How often do you use acetaminophen-containing over-the-counter and/or prescription medications for you LBP and OA pain, even as you pursue relief through chiropractic care? How often do you take these drugs for your spinal / OA pain instead of visiting a chiropractor? As this meta-analysis suggests, acetaminophen is ineffective for these types of pain. So give chiropractic a try – a proven natural pain reliever.
Resources
Machado GC, et al. Efficacy and safety of paracetamol for spinal pain and osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials. Brit Med J, 2015;350. Full text available online.
Dal Pan GJ. "Acetaminophen: Background and Overview." FDA Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, June 29, 2009.
Greenlaw E. "Your Guide to Over-the Counter Pain Relief. OTC Pain Relief: Understanding Acetaminophen." WebMD.com.
Healy M. "Acetaminophen in Rx Drugs: For Liver's Sake, Lower the Dose." Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2014.
Gerth J, Miller TC. "Use Only as Directed." ProPublica, Sept. 20, 2013.
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http://lifecarechiropractic.com/blog/prevent-heart-disease/
Taking Care of Your Heart? 7 Habits You Need NOW
by Dr. James Bogash
I'm going to go out on a a limb and state that death from heart disease is almost 100% preventable. So why is it still the #1 killer in the US and other industrialized nations?
Doesn’t this seems like a contradiction? If it’s so easy to prevent and research has shown what you need to do to protect your heart, so why the disparity? Maybe the researchers are all wrong and heart disease is just genetic. Given how often I hear this in my office, the “genetics” excuse has got to be at least partially correct, right?
Maybe the things you need to do to protect your heart are just too extreme to adopt. A lifestyle along the lines of the Dalai lama hidden in the mountains of Tibet? Running with the Hazda hunter-gatherers in east Africa? Hunting seals with the Inuit Eskimos of Greenland? Spending every waking moment in the gym on the treadmill or chanting a mantra in a yoga class?
Not even close. The American Heart Association have identified 7 key factors for ideal cardiovascular health (termed “Life’s Simple 7″). NONE of these are even remotely impossible to obtain. You just need to make the choice. Here they are:
· Being a non-smoker
· BMI < 25 (it is actually better to go by body fat percentage or waist-to-hip ratio–any “buff” weightlifter will have a higher BMI than this)
· Physical activity at least 150 min/wk moderate intensity or 75 min/wk vigorous intensity or combination
· At least 4-5 components of a Healthy Diet Score (a pretty simple task, actually…details by clicking here)
· Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl (UNMEDICATED!!!!)
· Blood pressure less than 120/80
· Fasting blood sugar less than 100 mg/dl
With this in mind, this particular study looked at 1,731 adults (average age 56.8) to see how much these 7 factors had an effect on plaquing of the arteries feeding the heart muscles (specfically measured as coronary artery calcium, or CAC, scores as measure by cardiac CT). The CAC rating goes from 0 to 400, with anyone having a score of 100 or more to be considered as having heart disease. Using this scale, here’s what they found:
· The average number of ideal cardiovascular lifestyle factors was 3.
· Not a sinlge participant (out of 1,731) met all 7 factors.
· Those who had 2 factors were 63% less likely to have a 100 CAC score.
· Those who had 3 factors were 62% less likely.
· Four or more factors had a 73% lower chance of having a CAC of 100 or more.
Now, I’m not saying that a 73% lower chance means heart disease has been prevented. There are other ways to check for heart disease besides CAC. But it sure has to be a good thing. Keep in mind that these 7 factors are really the low hanging fruit of prevention. When you get into more specific heart-healthy lifestyles (avoiding chemical exposures like BPA and Teflon, short-burst aerobic, a good night’s rest, etc…) these numbers will skyrocket.
To me, though, the sickening part is that NONE out of 1,731 adults were meeting all 7 factors for heart disease prevention. NONE. As in ZERO. Is our society that incredibly sick that making lifestyle choices to protect our heart is out of the question?
Until we wake up as a society, stand up and say “enough is enough,” heart disease, a completely preventable condition, will continue to top the charts as the #1 killer.
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42.7 vs 1.5%
A study published in Spine, a leading orthopedic medical journal, looked at thousands of patients in Washington State who suffered lower back injuries at work. If the first doctor the patient saw was an orthopedic surgeon, 42.7 percent wound up having back surgery within three years. If the first doctor the patient saw was a chiropractor, 1.5 percent eventually had back surgery within three years.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23238486 Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 May 15;38(11):953-64. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182814ed5.
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http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=2060
The Problem With Surgery for Low Back Pain
If you've ever experienced back pain, whether acute or chronic, there are a few facts you should know. First, you're not alone; studies suggest 80 percent of adults experience at least one episode of low back pain in their lifetime. Second, thousands of people undergo back surgery every year for back pain, putting their bodies at risk for surgical complications. Third, chiropractic and other conservative, nonsurgical treatment methods have been shown to be effective for uncomplicated cases of LBP.
And here's one more important fact: Research suggests the big problem with surgery for back pain, particularly chronic back pain (recurrent pain over weeks or months), is that it doesn't seem to work – at least not any better than conservative care. The latest evidence: study findings published in the research journal Spine that found: "After an average of 11 years follow-up, there was no difference in patient self-rated outcomes between fusion and multidisciplinary cognitive-behavioral and exercise rehabilitation for cLBP (chronic low-back pain).
The results suggest that, given the increased risks of surgery and the lack of deterioration in nonoperative outcomes over time, the use of lumbar fusion in cLBP patients should not be favored in health care systems where multidisciplinary cognitive-behavioral and exercise rehabilitation programs are available."
This isn't the first study to suggest surgery isn't your best option when it comes to the back. And if you think you can go to any type of doctor, think again. Expertise aside, research indicates that the type of doctor you visit first – namely a surgeon vs. a doctor of chiropractic – can essentially determine whether you'll eventually undergo surgery. So think surgery last and visit a chiropractor first. Your back will thank you for it.
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Vitamin D Success Story from grassrootshealth.net
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Mike Scott. I am 73 years old and live in Cedar Park, Texas. I retired in 2007 from biochemistry. I have been happily married for 30 years, with 3 grown children, 6 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson.
I am in wonder because of all of the positive health affects that have resulted from vitamin D.
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How did you hear about GrassrootsHealth / vitamin D?
I learned about vitamin D first as a biochemist. I was interested in it because when you have adequate amounts of vitamin D it increases your anti-microbial peptides (AMP), which is great for fighting disease. I think it is very interesting that every cell in your body has receptors for vitamin D. I googled vitamin D and found out information from the Vitamin D Council and GrassrootsHealth.
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How was your health before vitamin D?
I had a concern about a diagnosis for prostate cancer (G7) in 2010. I went through all the specialists (surgery, chemo, hormones) - they all wanted to fix me. But I decided that I wanted to go into vigilant watching by having a PSA test done every 3 months.
In 2011, another biopsy was done and came up positive. At that point I decided to start taking much more vitamin D than was recommended at the time - 10,000 IU/day. About half of my doctors thought I was crazy and that it was going to be toxic. Most of the health people of the time were recommending 1,000 - 2,000 IU/day.
In 2012 I had another biopsy. It came up completely negative. I met with my oncologist, I asked "what happened?" He told me to wait for another year... 2013 - It was completely negative. The oncologist wouldn't go on record, but he said that high levels of D can starve tumors. He is now recommending vitamin D to all of his patients, because he saw my success.
I no longer have any symptoms. My PSA is still elevated, but I feel much better and no one can find any prostate cancer.
How much vitamin D do you take? How do you get it (sun or supplements)?
I take 10,000 IU/day. I never miss a day. I also go for a daily walk for half an hour with no sunscreen.
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What is your vitamin D level?
I have my blood levels done twice a year, it is usually an average of 75 ng/ml. One summer it got as high as 120 ng/ml. Usually in the winter it doesn't go too low, the lowest I have had is 60 ng/ml. I am very good at taking it daily - summer or winter, I never forget. Just to make sure, twice a year I also have calcium levels analyzed. I have never had a problem with calcium either.
In addition, I get proper hydration, adequate sleep (7-8 hours), and exercise. I drink 2.1 L of water every day, half of my liquid weight in water.
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What would you recommend to others who are in a similar situation?
I recommend that people take 45 IU/day per lb of body weight. I determined that number through my biochemistry research over the years.
For people in the middle of cancer treatments, I tell my story first. They usually get excited, especially my black friends. I let them know that if they have adequate levels of vitamin D it will enhance and help some of their chemotherapy. I remind them that my doctorate is in biochemistry, but it can't hurt for them to take vitamin D. I tell them to take a minimum of 4000 IU/day along with all of their other medicines.
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How do you tell others about vitamin D?
I tell others with or without cancer to see their doctor and first establish their baseline of D. Test once in the winter and once in the summer. I have lectured twice - for my church and at an AARP event. All those old folks do not take vitamin D, only one person out of a hundred was taking vitamin D when I asked for a show of hands.
