Health First Research

It is not surprising that the majority of practicing physicians report symptoms of stress and emotional exhaustion. As a chiropractor, I treat a lot of stressful patients, so I know first hand what stress can do to both mind and body. That is one of the reasons I suggest meditation to many of my patients, in addition to their chiropractic adjustments. Well, we’ve all heard the saying, “Physician, heal thyself,” and resent research results suggest that doctors can do just that by taking up mindfulness meditation to avoid fatigue, stress, and burn out.

The 70 primary care physicians in the study participated in 8 weekly 2 ½-hour sessions of mindfulness meditation training. This was followed by 10 monthly 2 ½-hour sessions. Over the course of the program and follow-ups the doctors showed a significant improvement in well-being, as well as decreases in burnout and mood disturbance. And, the news gets even better because the doctors also showed an increase in empathy and positive changes in how they related to their patients.

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As a chiropractor, I view the body holistically. A healthy, nutritious diet a big part of the chiropractic lifestyle philosophy. Balance, whether it is in physical movement or in the foods we eat, is a vital part of any healthy lifestyle. Still, many people who come to see me are overweight and often have overweight children. So, I was pleased to read about a recent study that found junk food to be addictive, which may explain at least in part why more and more men, women, and children in our country are obese.

Researchers discovered that junk food elicits addictive behavior in rats similar to the behaviors of rats addicted to heroin. And, as the pleasure centers in the brains of rats addicted to high-fat, high-calorie diets became less responsive as the binging wore on, the rats consumed more and more food.

The junk foods used in the study were typical “Western fare,” such as Ho Hos, sausage, pound cake, bacon and cheesecake. Rats that ate the junk food soon developed compulsive eating habits and became obese.It is suspected that the results of this newest study (presented October 20 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience) will help to explain the changes in the brain that lead people to overeat.

For a full report on the study, go to: discovery.com

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Dutch researchers report that treating pregnant mothers, and then their infants, with select strains of probiotics may help prevent a skin condition known as eczema in children with a family history of allergies, particularly during the first 3 months of life. Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition thought to be related to allergies. As a chiropractor, I am always interested in new research that supports natural remedies. Probiotics are bacteria present naturally in the body and sometimes added to food or dietary supplements to boost immune function. Chiropractic treatment can also improve the function of the autoimmune system.

In the study, 150 pregnant women with a family history of allergic diseases were given either a mixture of three probiotic bacteria or a placebo during the last six weeks of pregnancy. In addition, the researchers also gave the same treatment to the women’s children for 12 months.

In a follow up with 102 of the children born to the mothers who took part in the study, parents of 6 in 50 of the subjects who received probiotics reported eczema in their children, compared to 15 or 52 of the placebo group. And, even though the rate of eczema in both groups became more similar, there was still some benefit even after two years.

One of the paper’s 9 authors is employed by Winclove Bio Industries B.V., Amsterdam, which manufactures the probiotic supplements used in the study. The study appeared in the journal Allergy.

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Despite the fact that chiropractic is not a therapy for asthma, per se, recent research published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research recorded the results experienced by 81 children with asthma who were given chiropractic adjustments. The two-month study reported that those under care experienced a 45% decrease in the number of “attacks” and that 31% of the subjects voluntarily decided to decrease their medication.

Even though chiropractic care may be able to help those who already have asthma, public health researcher Julie Von Behren, of Northern California Cancer Center in Berkeley, and colleagues found that being overweight, especially around the middle, may increase a woman’s risk for developing asthma.

In the study women who were overweight or obese were much more apt to have asthma than women at a healthy weight, but regardless of a woman’s weight, a large waist size, i.e., more than 34 inches, also suggested increased risk for asthma, Von Behren and colleagues report in the medical journal Thorax.

In addition, obesity may make asthma symptoms more severe, according to Von Behren, and make urgent medical visits and hospital admission due to asthma more likely. “These findings are particularly troubling,” Von Behren and colleagues say, given that the majority of American adults are now overweight or obese.

For more on this valuable study and sources, go to reuters.com

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As a chiropractor, I am dedicated to a natural, drug-free approach to health and wellness. There are many holistic therapies that compliment chiropractic care. One of them is aromatherapy, which I frequently recommend. Though aromatherapy is popular today, people have been inhaling the scent of certain plants to help reduce stress, fight inflammation and depression, and induce sleep since ancient times. But a new study always gives the practice a boost, so I was pleased to read about a new study in the ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry validating the efficacy of aromatherapy. Scientists in Japan are reporting the first scientific evidence that inhaling certain fragrances actually alters gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that can reduce stress levels.

The scientists exposed lab rats to stressful conditions while inhaling and not inhaling linalool, extracted from natural essential oils. Linalool returned stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes – key parts of the immune system – to near-normal levels. Inhaling linalool also reduced the activity of more than 100 genes that go into overdrive in stressful situations. The findings could form the basis of new blood tests for identifying fragrances that can soothe stress, the researchers say.

Linalool has been the subject of numerous studies investigating its anxiolytic (anti-stress) effects. Lavender is the most popular linaloo-containing oil, though it is found in many plant species.

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Chiropractors everywhere are happy to announce a breakthrough treatment for fibromyalgia. If you suffer from the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia,  the good news is that chiropractic management can help you no matter how widespread the painful symptoms may be.  Many times the pain occurs above and below the waist, and involves both sides of the body. The deep aching that accompanies the condition often travels, shoots, stings, and even gnaws at your body.

As if the intense pain and suffering from fibromyalgia weren’t enough, a disproportionate ninety percent of fibromyalgia sufferers also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, perhaps you may be one of them. This “double whammy” can result in your not only suffering from pain and fatigue, but also malaise, headaches, numbness and pins and needles, dizziness, sleep disturbance, swollen feeling in tissues, stiffness, sensitivity to noise and stress, and cognitive impairment.

Chiropractic techniques have been found to be highly beneficial in reversing trauma-induced injuries by reducing inflammation to the nerves in the brain stem and spinal cord that can trigger pain, neuromuscular dysfunction, and fatigue.

What do “trauma-induced injuries” have to do with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome? The connection may surprise you.

While the precise cause of these syndromes is not known, current research has pinpointed traumatic neck injuries, such as whiplash and concussion, as risk factors for the onset of both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. And, here’s the thing: although the pain and fatigue produced by spinal injuries can be triggered immediately, often it can take quite a long time, perhaps months or years to develop. These types of injuries may no be remembered by the time fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms appear.

If you are someone who experiences the distressing symptoms of one, or both, of these two debilitating conditions, you may find it difficult to take part in even the simplest activities in life, and you may even be experiencing depression and feeling defeated. But, don’t give up hope because your chiropractor can help you.

When it comes to the knowledge and treatment of the spine, your chiropractor is an expert. Chiropractic management has been shown to be extraordinarily effective in reversing trauma-induced spinal injury. If you’ve been experiencing the pain and discomfort caused by fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, see your chiropractor today to see if chiropractic management can help to eliminate your suffering.

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The Road to Longevity is Paved With Balanced Lifestyle Choices
by Guest Contributor Jamie G. Phillips, DC

If you’re like me, you may be wondering whether or not our human pursuit of longevity has suddenly been displaced by a quest for immortality. No doubt, you’ve been reading a lot recently about the miraculous heart benefits of red wine (resveratrol), the extraordinary memory retention benefits of coffee (caffeine), and the countless benefits of a horde of natural supplements that, in one way or another, promise to reduce or prevent all known causes of mortality.

To begin with, let me make it unquestionably clear that I unwaveringly believe that certain~particular things that we put into our bodies can be beneficial to our health. Therefore, I’m definitely not opposed to taking supplements. Not only do I recommend them to my patients, but take them myself. Secondly, if confession is good for the soul, and red wine is good for the heart, then I’d like to take this opportunity to help both by stating for the record that I appreciate drinking a glass of red wine. The suggestion that it might have heart-healthy properties, well, that’s like icing on the cake, so to speak. And, lastly, as far as caffeine’s ability to actually reverse or prevent Alzheimer’s disease goes, I believe that if that were generally true, life would be far less frightening and far more enjoyable for many people and their families.

But, let’s pause and consider the prudence of aimlessly adding an extra cuppa to your breakfast routine, drinking more red wine with dinner, or plunking down a pile of cash on high-priced minerals and herbs that guarantee near-immortality.

For example, let us think about the fact that we, humans, are dynamic, biological beings, free to uniquely interact with life. We have not been detained in a cage, and none of us has been “propagated” to artificially develop the age-related debilitation and disease that lab animals are bred to do, conditions that are then “reversed” by resveratrol, caffeine, or some exotic herb.

Essentially, our being dynamic and biological means that we are not “robots,” and that we are more than the sum total of our parts. We are each biologically unique in certain ways, that is, we respond differently to internal stimulating factors and external instigating influences. For example, though generally, smoking cigarettes is harmful, there is a small minority of people who appear to be able to smoke and live to be ninety years old without any obvious ill effects.

The results upon which scientific research and testing are rely upon the isolation of a particular variable. It is this method that gives scientific inquiry its legitimacy. However, because tests related to human health issues occur through this very method, and are most often done on lab animals, when it comes to human beings, the effects are very likely to be quite different. In fact, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, what might benefit some of the people all of the time, most likely won’t work for all of the people all of the time (and sometimes won’t work at all!).

You make choices each day, some that are intentional and others that may be indifferent, that will affect your physical health, now and in the future. You decide what (and how much) you’ll eat and drink, and the amount of physical activity and rest you’ll get. Even though you can “sense” what is healthy for you, by the way your body responds, sometimes, perhaps too often, you may override the feedback. Clearly, when you don’t consciously make healthy choices, you jeopardize your health and longevity.

Then you, like many others, may enthusiastically jump on the bandwagon of the latest report that announces that researchers have uncovered THE VERY THING that has the potency to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things you have been doing to your body on a routine basis! Talk about wishful thinking!

The elegantly balanced system of your body (homeostasis) is highly responsive and intricate. This delicate system becomes “off balance” when you live an unhealthy lifestyle. Eventually, the imbalances nurtured through poor health choices, result in diseases.

As a chiropractor, I advise that you supplement if you need it. Pour that added cup of coffee if it feels right. And, have a little more red wine if it genuinely feels beneficial for your individual system. But all the while remember, the only truly reliable way that we, humans, can avoid or reverse age-related health issues is by changing our unhealthy lifestyle. Good health has nothing do with luck. And, there is no “magic potion” when it comes to health and longevity.

Dr. Jamie Phillips, a Santa Barbara Chiropractor, has been in private chiropractic practice for 24 years. She is also a consultant for Bloczone Marketing, a chiropractic internet marketing company specializing in chiropractic websites that attract new patients. She can be reached at (805) 882-1956.

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Scoliosis an Introduction

When the body is looked at from behind, a normal spine is straight without much deviation from one side to the other.Scoliosis is a disorder that is generally associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The disorder shouldn’t be confused with poor posture, even though it often gives the appearance that the individual is leaning to one side. Scoliosis is a troublesome deformity that is defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often causing a symptomatic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their fastened ribs posterior hence producing the characteristic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be obstructed if the thoracic curve and rib rotation exceeds 70 degrees. Often later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this amount of curve and resulting cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

The spine reveals four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are observable from a side view of the trunk. The thoracic, in the chest vicinity, has a normal round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a healthy “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes regularly accompany diversions from normal on a side view. A few round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small percentage of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This kind of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a layman can help to identify a child or fully-grown individual with scoliosis just by viewing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in shorts, and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be raised than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more prominent than the other.

• With the arms hanging loosely at the sides, there may be more area between the arm and the body on one side.

• One hip may look to be raised or more conspicuous than the other.

• The head is not centered over the pelvis.

• When the person is analyzed from the rear and asked to lean forward until the spine is horizontal, one side of the back seems higher than the other.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation once scoliosis is suspected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

The most prevalent type of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and though there are various origins and many types, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for about 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent cases. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences as it commonly runs in families. Though it is unknown why, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves increase in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are finishing the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are reluctant to allow their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group examined on a regular basis.

If a scoliotic curve is observed in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for advancement by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of instances, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to ascertain if a brace or other management is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of patients.

Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for newly-identified symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are a number of types of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effectual in preventing curve progression in a very large portion of skeletally-immature adolescents. Nevertheless, braces generally won’t make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from getting bigger.

Scoliosis has no simple resolution. The majority of cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. The standard medical treatment for moderate cases is a brace, whereas severe cases in some cases are treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Along with bracing, many other therapies have been used successfully like specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It seems like the most effective results have been sustained with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this condition.

There are chiropractors, that have expertise treating scoliosis conditions.

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Earache is the most common purpose for office visits to pediatricians. More than 70 percent of children will have had at least one earache by the age of three, and nearly one-third will have had three or more earache episodes. What you might not expect, however, is that earache is also the most general reason for children under the age of five years to be taken to the chiropractor’s office.

How Chiropractic Care Relates to Earache and Ear Infections

When a child who has an earache is determined to have a middle ear infection by the pediatrician, the standard treatment encompasses a course of antibiotics. New study, however, has ascertained that such practices are often misguided. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, and due to the fact that the child’s middle ear infection may be generated by a virus, antibiotics are ineffectual. This may account for a child’s chronic ear infections.

One of a variety of determinations that a Honolulu chiropractor can make is whether the earache or ear infection is produced by inflamation of the small nerves in the spine, called free nerve endings.

When these nerve endings are inflamed, an undue tension is produced in the small muscles of the neck. Pressure generated on the lymphatic drainage ducts as a consequence of muscle tension can prevent adequate drainage from inside the ear. This problem keeps the body from naturally rectifying the problem. In addition, balance can also be affected.

Inadequate drainage of lymphatic ducts can be identifed by a chiropractor if there is increased tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles on the side with the earache. In addition, the chiropractor will palpate to see which spinal vertebrae are either slightly out of alignment or not moving within their normal range. There are a number of reasons for such acondition as the result of the many bangs, jolts, and falls almost all children encounter growing up. Restoration of normal lymph drainage is most often accomplished with a short regimen of treatments that include spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles. If your child is suffering from an earache or an ear infection, call your Honolulu chiropractor as soon as possible.

Advanced Research and Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most widespread childhood disease after the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits every year. In addition, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are causelessly prescribed for the problem.Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and definitively recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) commends the AAP on the guidelines and emphasizes that chiropractic management is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success – helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome falls into the category of neurological conditions called nerve entrapment disorders and is clearly the most well-known of these disorders. As the name suggests, these conditions take place when a nerve is trapped or constricted between other tissues of the body causing irritation and dysfunction of the nerve.

Anatomy

The carpal tunnel rests within the underside of the wrist. It is a tunnel, or passage, through which the Median nerve journeys on its way to energize and animate the hand and fingers. Along with the median nerve, the carpal tunnel includes the nine tendons of the forearm muscles that are responsible for bending and flexing of the fingers and thumb. There are also arteries and lymphatic vessels that provide circulation to the hand located within the tunnel. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist bones and the top of the tunnel is covered by a sinewy band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. The diameter of the carpal tunnel is about the same as the index finger making the carpal tunnel a jam-packed space. The flexor tendons, arteries and median nerve are designed to glide easily past each other during wrist and finger movement.

If the size of the tendon enlarges due to irritation or overuse, or if the carpal tunnel size shrinks due to  a misalignment of the carpal bones, the median nerve can become compressed or entrapped by the carpal tunnel. The initiatory symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome commonly include pain, numbness, paraesthesia (pins and needles) and tingling in the fingers and hands especially the thumb and adjacent two fingers.  The symptoms are markedly apparent at night, often awakening the sufferer from sleep and making it necessary for the person to “shake out” or rub the hands in an attempt to relieve the unpleasant sensations.  The hands can also feel clumsy, weak and fatigue easily with activity. Over time, the ability to hold small objects using the thumb and fingers can be affected dramatically and if left untreated, can lead to total dysfunction of the hand.

The following are typical causes and corresponding conditions:

• repetitive and forceful grasping with the hands

• prolonged computer usage especially with poor wrist position

• activities that require repetitive bending of the wrist

• broken or dislocated bones in the wrist which produce swelling

• arthritis, especially the rheumatoid type

• thyroid gland imbalance

• sugar diabetes

• hormonal changes associated with menopause or pregnancy

Although any of the above can make one susceptible to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, in many cases the cause is unknown. Nevertheless, those who work with equipment that vibrates and/or perform their jobs in extreme temperatures often develop carpal tunnel symptoms.  In addition, repetitive housework as seemingly inconsequential as wringing clothes by hand, can bring on carpal tunnel symptoms. However, the continuing increase in computer use is the most compelling explanation for the number of individuals who are suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome today. This is becoming a major concern in the developed world where people of all ages are spending much of their time typing on a keyboard & clicking on a mouse.

Treatment

Competent diagnosis and treatment is vital to relieving the painful and debilitating symptoms of CTS. Your Ventura Chiropractor is highly skilled in the diagnosis and managment of CTS. Chiropractors are equipped to deal with this problem and can offer many sufferers with relief.  In addition to chiropractic adjustments of the wrist joints, treatment by chiropractor may include inflammation reduction therapy such as ultrasound or low level laser. Electromusclestim can often help to strengthen the weak muscles of the forearm and soft tissue massage is effective in stretching contracted tissues. You might be advised to wear a splint or support, particularly at night, to aid in the decompression of the carpal tunnel. Your Ventura Chiropractor will also give you specific exercises to stretch and/or strengthen muscles of the forearm and hand.

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