Healthy Life Newsletter, February 2018
Why Americans Love Chiropractic
Findings from the most recent National Health Interview Survey providing data on the use of chiropractic and other complementary health care approaches by U.S. adults reveals why Americans utilize chiropractic and what they value most. The survey provides data on lifetime (54.6 million; 24%) and 12-month (19.1 million; 8.4%) use of chiropractic services and various sociodemographic characteristics. But the most intriguing data illuminates the primary reasons for visiting a doctor of chiropractic and the perceived health and wellness benefits received by chiropractic users. Why visit a chiropractor? Here’s why:
Reasons for Visiting a Chiropractor
For general wellness / disease prevention: 43.6%
To improve energy: 16.3%
To improve athletic or sports performance: 15.4%
To improve immune function: 11.4%
To improve memory or concentration: 5.3%
Improves overall health or makes feel better: 66.9%
Helps to sleep better: 41.9%
Helps to reduce stress level or to relax: 40.2%
Makes it easier to cope with health problems: 38.5%
Gives a sense of control over own health: 32.5%
Helps to feel better emotionally: 27.4%
Overall Value in Maintaining Health and Well-Being
Very important: 47.9%
Somewhat important: 29.6%
Slightly important: 13.9%
Not at all important: 8.7%
Effectiveness in Helping Specific Health Problem
Helped a great deal: 64.5%
Helped some: 25.8%
Why Not Just See an Medical Doctor?
Chiropractic combined with medical treatment would help: 64.8%
Chiropractic treats the cause and not just the symptoms: 61.9%
Chiropractic is natural: 37.5%
Medical treatments do not work for specific health problem: 33.8%
Chiropractic focuses on the whole person: 24.9%
Medications cause side effects: 18.1%
So, let’s recap: U.S. adults visit doctors of chiropractic for a variety of health and wellness reasons (not just when they have back pain); the majority find it “very important” or “somewhat important” in maintaining their overall health and well-being, yet most all believe it is effective in helping their specific health problems; and chiropractic presents an all-natural, drug-free alternative to traditional medical care. Someone you know needs chiropractic!
Ibuprofen Linked to Men’s Fertility Problems
By Tim Locke
Jan. 9, 2018 – Taking the common painkiller ibuprofen has been linked in a small study with a condition affecting male fertility problems.
Male fertility is dropping around the world and the researchers wanted to see if ibuprofen might be contributing to this.
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sold without a prescription for short-term treatment of pain, inflammation from injuries, and fever. Health professionals may recommend longer-term use.
It is known to increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke if taken regularly in high doses for a long time.
It has already been linked with fertility problems in women taking the drug.
Common brands of ibuprofen include Advil and Motrin.
Small Study
The Danish and French study looked at 31 athletic men between the ages of 18 and 35.
Half the group took 600mg of ibuprofen twice a day – the maximum recommended dose in the U.S. is 800mg up to four times a day – for 2 weeks. The other half took a dummy (placebo) tablet. Samples were taken before and after the trial for comparison.
Those who took the ibuprofen were more likely to have indications of testicular problems – including a condition called compensated hypogonadism that affects reproductive health – meaning men are less likely to be able to father a child. This is more common in older men than younger ones.
Ibuprofen appears to affect the pituitary gland that’s involved in production of the male hormone testosterone, as well as other processes linked to sperm production.
‘Landmark Study’
Several experts have reacted to the study findings.
Richard Quinton, MD, from Newcastle University in England and the Society for Endocrinology, says: “This is a landmark study that elegantly combines clinical and basic research, at both tissue and cellular levels, to show that ibuprofen, a common over-the-counter painkiller, can reversibly hinder testosterone production by testicular cells.”
Before now, he says, “most warnings regarding this family of painkillers have focused on limiting long-term use in the elderly to prevent gastrointestinal, renal and cardiac adverse effects. This study should give pause for thought to sportsmen using them routinely for exercise-induced aches and pains.”
Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Sheffield, cautions: “The results suggest that long-term use (several weeks) of ibuprofen can affect the production of the male hormone by the testicles. The authors speculate that this could have health implications for such men, given the known links between the disruption of such hormones and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and infertility.
“However, this is currently speculative. So, for the time being, I would urge men who need to take ibuprofen to continue to do so. However, it is recommended that if men (or women) need to take it for more than 3 days consecutively then they should first consult their family doctor.”
Kevin McEleny, PhD, from the British Fertility Society says: “This was a short-term study and the effects seen on testicular health may be reversible. No direct effect on fertility was shown, but the results of this initial study suggest that it warrants further investigation.
“Long-term use of ibuprofen has other negative effects on overall health so people should only be taking it over a period of weeks, months or years if a doctor has prescribed it.”
Rethinking Cold Meds for Kids
If you haven’t already tuned out any conversation about giving your children cough and cold medication when they’re under the weather, this should do it. The Food and Drug Administration has strengthened its warning on prescription cold medicine, stating that no product containing opioid ingredients such as hydrocodone or codeine should be given to children – of any age. That’s ages 0-17, in case you’re wondering.
New language being added to warning labels on all prescription cold medicines will indicate that the risks of using the products outweigh the benefits in children and should only be used by adults ages 18 and older.
What about over-the-counter cold medication? Well, in the past decade, the FDA has already issued several warnings and required language to be added to labels limiting their use in kids. In fact, a consumer update on the FDA website titled “Most Young Children With a Cough or Cold Don’t Need Medicine” makes its position abundantly clear, especially for the youngest (ages 2 and under); while a 2016 update, “Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids,” offers additional safety information and includes alternative treatments that may work better.
What alternative treatments? The FDA mentions cool mist humidifiers, saline nose drops / spray, and drinking plenty of liquids among the nondrug options. We would be remiss if we didn’t add honey; such a simple remedy often overlooked by parents rushing to the drugstore for a quick fix to their child’s discomfort. For example, a Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine study found that children given buckwheat honey before bed coughed less and slept better than children who didn’t receive honey. And other research suggest zinc lozenges may be effective for resolving cold symptoms in children and adults, particularly if taken within close proximity to the arrival of symptoms.
Your doctor can tell you more about the dangers of over-the-counter and prescription cold medicine and why natural alternatives are safer, effective options for you and your child.
Losing Sleep in the Electronic Age
If your child has difficulty falling or staying asleep, or seems as if they haven’t enjoyed restful sleep even if they’ve put in a full eight or more hours under the sheets, excessive screen time may be the culprit. Even more concerning, sleep dysfunction may manifest in children as young as the age of 3.
Researchers investigated the relationship between exposure to electronic media such as television, DVDs and computer gaming with overall sleep quality in more than 500 children. Parents were asked about their child’s media consumption and sleep habits via a questionnaire when the child was 3 years old. Results, published in the journal Sleep Medicine, showed that high media consumption increased the likelihood of poor sleep quality including resistance to bedtime, anxiety over going to sleep and sleepiness during the daytime (presumably from poor sleep quality at night).
According to the researchers, their findings are significant not only because it reinforces the association between electronic media use, particularly in the evening hours, and poor sleep – but also because it suggests even young children can be impacted. The researchers also noted that more than 40 percent of parents reported that they never read books to their children. While non-reading was not evaluated for its influence on sleep quality, it seems reasonable that reading could replace electronic media use and serve as a calmer, less overstimulating method of preparing for a restful, restorative night’s sleep.
Your Brain Needs Exercise
Could twice a week be all it takes? We’re talking about exercise, specifically resistance exercise, and its ability to help seniors suffering from age-related mild cognitive decline. A review study in Neurology revealed twice-weekly resistance training for 26 weeks proved more effective than aerobic exercise in terms of improving “executive functioning” – the ability to plan, manage and organize thoughts.
Deficiencies in executive functioning are one of several symptoms characteristic of MCI (mild cognitive impairment).
The study authors suggest exercise in general (resistance and aerobic exercise) may be beneficial for MCI according to their review, going so far as to add it to a clinical practice guideline for the condition. The guideline has already been endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association. The authors also note that per their research review, little high-quality evidence suggests medications currently used to treat MCI (which raises the risk of dementias such as Alzheimer’s) are effective.
So, exercise works, medication doesn’t. Where have we heard that before? Your doctor can tell you more about how to treat mild cognitive decline and reduce your risk of age-related brain atrophy the drug-free way.
Smoking Leads to Spine Surgery
If you’re a current smoker, we hope you’re speaking with a health care professional right now about how to quit. If you’re not, we urge you to consider doing so, because your risk of suffering one or more of any number of diseases appears to increase dramatically if you’re a smoker.
In fact, even back pain occurs more frequently if you’re a smoker, and the pain may lead to surgery.
Lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition characterized by spinal canal narrowing that causes low back pain due to the increased pressure on spinal nerves, appears to be more prevalent in smokers because nicotine constricts blood flow and promotes inflammation. In a study published in The Spine Journal, researchers discovered that smokers were more likely not only to suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis, but also to eventually undergo surgery for the condition. In fact, compared to nonsmokers, heavy smokers (15 or more cigarettes per day) were 46 percent more likely to undergo surgery, while moderate smokers (14 or less cigarettes daily) had a 31 percent higher risk and even former smokers had a 13 percent increased risk.
What’s the takeaway? Smoking can lead to back pain requiring surgery, and the more you smoke, the worse the risk. And while even ex-smokers have a small increased risk compared to nonsmokers, it’s significantly lower than the risk inherited by smokers. Just another reason to say no to smoking. Talk to your doctor about the smoking cessation program that’s right for you.