Healthy Life Newsletter, August 2021
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%
Benefits of Chiropractic
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!
The Natural Vaccine?
Throughout the past year, we’ve heard repeatedly about the immune-boosting benefits of vitamin D, particularly with research supporting its utility in reducing hospitalization rates / complications due to COVID-19 infection.
Even with vaccination against the virus becoming widespread, it’s important not to overlook the value of vitamin D in your daily regimen, whether you’re vaccinated or not. Why? Because vitamin D may even protect against COVID-19 infection.
Case in point: A new study that suggests Black people with vitamin D blood levels above 40 ng/ml were significantly less likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to people with blood levels between 30-40 ng/ml (30 ng/ml is generally considered “sufficient” according to current recommendations, although many health care practitioners consider that low). This is an important discovery because Blacks have been disproportionately impacted by both infection and complications from COVID-19.
While this study, published in JAMA Network Open, did not reveal a significant association between vitamin D levels and COVID infection in non-Black individuals, previous recent research has found that vitamin D deficiency (lower than 20 ng/ml) may increase the risk of testing positive for COVID-19; and that as many as four in five patients who test positive for the virus are vitamin D deficient.
Added to the fact that vitamin D’s immune-strengthening abilities are well-established, including its ability to reduce the risk of colds / flu and other viruses, and it’s clear to see why doctors are increasing checking all patients’ vitamin D levels and recommending supplementation if necessary. Is a robust immune system your body’s natural vaccine? It may not prevent COVID-19 entirely, but it certainly appears to reduce your risk of infection and/or complications. Ask your doctor for more information about the immune-supporting and other health benefits of vitamin D.
Stress Less: Fruits & Veggies
Unless you’ve been living off the grid for decades, you’re undoubtedly aware of the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. These low-calorie, high-nutrient whole foods have a wealth of research support suggesting their benefits in everything from weight loss to cancer prevention.
And even if you’ve been off the grid, you’ve probably been relying on fruits and vegetables as staple “earth” foods and appreciating the health benefits.
But what about the psychological benefits of eating fruits and vegetables – namely stress reduction? New research suggests this should be added to the long list of health reasons to make sure you’re eating fruits and veggies every chance you get. In a study involving more than 8,500 adults ages 25-91, people who ate at least 470 grams (approximately six servings) daily had 10 percent lower stress levels than people who ate less than 230 grams (approx. three servings) daily. This association was particularly evident in middle-aged adults (45-65 years of age).
The authors speculate that the nutrients present in fruits and vegetables may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thus leading to an increased sense of well-being – less stress. Regardless of the reason, the take-home message is clear: Make sure you’re getting enough fruits and vegetables every day as part of a balanced diet. Talk to your doctor for more information about healthy eating and the profound benefits of doing so.
Drugs to Lower Cholesterol: Are Statins the Holy Grail or a House of Cards?
By James Bogash, DC
The #1 tool of cardiology today is the use of statins to lower cholesterol.
And I should revise that. Initially, they were used to lower cholesterol and protect the heart, but later, when the data on cholesterol didn’t really play out well, the recommendations shifted to using statins to lower heart disease burden regardless of cholesterol level.
If that fails, there’s always stents and open heart surgery.
These tools have done virtually nothing to keep heart disease from staying the #1 killer, 647,000 per year or 1,772 every day. Day in day out. Week in week out. Month in month out. Year after year. Decade after decade.
All this despite the fact that heart disease is almost 100% preventable. Just not with these tools.
So just how much do statins suck at protecting those who take them?
In this review of 8 trials including 65,383 patients using statins, treating 100 patients for 2.5 years led to one less person having MACE (Major Adverse Cardiac Event).
One.
Out of 100.
In 2 and 1/2 years.
And this doesn’t take into account the side effects and costs (even the generics are worth billions to the drug companies).
These “benefits” aren’t hard to beat with even the most basic lifestyle choices like living an anti-diabetic lifestyle, exercise (especially short-burst aerobic), eating healthy fats and raw nuts (with dark chocolate :) )
Find out more in the video.
Chiropractic Better than Medication for Neck Pain
A study published in the research journal Annals of Internal Medicine and widely reported by mainstream media suggests chiropractic spinal manipulation is more effective than over-the-counter and prescription medication for relieving acute and subacute neck pain.
Spinal manipulative therapy was more effective than medication in both the short and long term.
The study involved 272 adults ages 18-65 with neck pain of two to 12 weeks’ duration. Participants were recruited from a university research center and a pain management clinic in Minnesota. Spinal manipulation was provided courtesy of a doctor of chiropractic. According to the study, six chiropractors, each with at least five years’ experience, provided treatment, with the specific spinal level to be treated and the number of treatments provided left to the discretion of the individual chiropractor.
Instead of chiropractic care, some patients in the study group received medication as monitored by a licensed medical physician. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen (aspirin), or both served as the first line of pharmacological therapy. With patients who did not respond to or could not tolerate these drugs, narcotic medications and muscle relaxants were prescribed. With each patient, the MD determined the type of medication administered and the number of patient visits.
Self-reported outcomes, including pain, were measured six times during the 12-week treatment period: at two initial (baseline) appointments; two, four, eight and 12 weeks after treatment began; and on two occasions post-treatment (weeks 26 and 52). Objective measures of cervical spine motion were measured at four and 12 weeks by seven trained examiners who were unaware of which treatment the patients were receiving.
After 12 weeks of treatment, a significantly higher proportion of the SMT group experienced reductions of pain of at least 50% [compared to the medication group]. Specifically, at week 12, more than 82 percent of the SMT group reported a 50 percent or greater reduction in pain; 57 percent reported at least a 75 percent reduction and 32 percent reported a 100 percent reduction. By comparison, the medication group reported reductions of only 69 percent, 33 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
In terms of long-term improvement, 75 percent of the SMT group reported at least a 50 percent reduction in pain after 26 weeks, while nearly 81 percent reported at least a 50 percent reduction at 52 weeks. The medication group’s improvement fluctuated from 59 percent reporting pain reduction of 50 percent or more at 26 weeks to 69 percent reporting the same reduction at 52 weeks.
“Participants who received medication seemed to fare worse, with a consistently higher use of pain medications for neck pain throughout the trial’s observational period,” said the study authors. In other words, chiropractic was a much better choice than medication for neck pain.
Interestingly enough, a third group of patients who received home exercise advice instead of chiropractic care or medication also fared better than the medication group during the study period. That means two forms of conservative, drug-free care - both of which are commonly provided by doctors of chiropractic - were more effective than over-the-counter and/or prescription drugs. The moral of the story? The next time you or someone you know is suffering from neck pain, don’t turn to the medicine cabinet or a medical doctor; turn to your doctor of chiropractic.
Your Heart Needs Sunshine – Here’s Why
Many studies have been published showing the relationship between increased sun exposure and improved health outcomes, including a decreased risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. In fact, research suggests that avoidance or lack of sunshine may be a risk factor for increased blood pressure and death from heart attacks, with one study concluding that avoidance of sunshine resulted in a shorter life expectancy comparable to the shortened life expectancy of smokers!
Sunshine Exposure Could Improve Hypertension
Hypertension is a leading underlying factor for all cardiovascular diseases and death. One large cohort study by Lindqvist et al. looked at data from 23,593 women and found that, compared to those with the greatest amount of sun exposure, women with low sun exposure habits had a 41% higher risk of hypertension, and women with moderate sun exposure habits had a 15% higher risk (p<0.001).
Are These Heart Healthy Benefits from Sunshine Due to Vitamin D Alone?
As the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D tends to steal the spotlight when it comes to health benefits offered by the sun. In terms of cardiovascular health, research has shown that vitamin D has a direct effect on vascular cells and plays a role in normalizing blood pressure, blood sugar, calcifications, and smooth muscle function. Cardiovascular diseases that have been associated with low vitamin D include hypertension, peripheral artery disease, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
However, vitamin D is not the only signaling molecule that can affect cardiovascular health and is released from the skin into circulation upon exposure to sunshine. In addition to vitamin D-producing UVB light, the sun also emits UVA light which initiates the production of nitric oxide.
What Does Nitric Oxide (NO) Do?
Scientists now understand that one of the reasons for the link between sun exposure and cardiovascular health is the sunshine’s role in the metabolism and release of nitric oxide. Studies have also linked nitric oxide and regular UV exposure to decreased metabolic dysfunction and improved glycemic control, which can contribute to improved cardiovascular health.
Nitric oxide has several effects within the body, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-thrombotic effects, and it is important for healthy endothelial function. Nitric oxide also helps to regulate immune cells such as macrophages. Benefits from increased nitric oxide production include dilated coronary arteries, lowered blood pressure, and reduced risk of angina – a condition characterized by severe chest pain and inadequate blood supply to the heart.
Some of the ramifications of not having enough nitric oxide are reviewed in this video with Dr. Louis Ignarro, a medical research scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his breakthrough discovery of nitric oxide and its positive impacts health and longevity.