Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
HOW A PAIN IN THE NECK COULD BE BAD FOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Chiropractors have long known that tackling pain and stiffness by “adjusting” the neck through manipulation can also lower blood pressure—but the reasons were never clear. Now a team led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, provides the first evidence for a role for these connections in influencing brain regions which control body functions that we don't need to think about, such as breathing and blood pressure.
They propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as we change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signaling fails, we can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.
The findings offer a clear rationale for manipulative treatments: “Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people,” Prof Deuchars explained. “By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure.”
“The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension—fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed.”
Chiropractors have long known that tackling pain and stiffness by “adjusting” the neck through manipulation can also lower blood pressure—but the reasons were never clear. Now a team led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, provides the first evidence for a role for these connections in influencing brain regions which control body functions that we don't need to think about, such as breathing and blood pressure.
They propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as we change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signaling fails, we can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.
The findings offer a clear rationale for manipulative treatments: “Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people,” Prof Deuchars explained. “By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure.”
“The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension—fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed.”
Second Hand Smoke and Dementia
Exposure may increase risk by 44%, researchers say
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) -- People exposed to secondhand smoke may face
as much as a 44 percent increased risk of developing dementia, a
new study suggests.
While previous research has established a connection between
smoking and increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease,
this new study is the largest review to date showing a link
between secondhand smoke and the threat of dementia, the authors
said.
"There is an association between cognitive function, which is
often but not necessarily a precursor of dementia, and exposure
to passive smoking," said lead researcher Iain Lang, a research
fellow in the Public Health and Epidemiology Group at Peninsula
Medical School in Exeter, England.
What's more, Lang said, the risk of impaired cognitive function
increases with the amount of exposure to secondhand smoke, the
findings suggest. "For people at the highest levels of exposure,
the risk is probably higher," he said.
The study was published online Feb. 13 in the journalBMJ.com.
For the study, Lang's team collected data on more than 4,800
nonsmokers who were over 50 years old. The researchers tested
saliva samples from these people for levels of cotinine, a
product of nicotine that can be found in saliva for about 25
hours after exposure to smoke.
The study participants also took neuropsychological tests to
assess brain function and cognitive impairment. These tests
evaluated memory, math and verbal skills. People whose scores
were in the lowest 10 percent were classified as having some
level of cognitive impairment.
The researchers found that people with the highest cotinine
levels had a 44 percent increased risk of cognitive impairment,
compared with people with the lowest cotinine levels. And, while
the risk of impairment was lower in people with lower cotinine
levels, the risk was still significant.
"We know that active smoking is bad -- being a smoker is bad
for your health and increases your risk of Alzheimer's. This
study suggests that this is the same for passive smoking," Lang
said. "We know that passive smoking is associated with an
increased risk of stroke and heart disease. This is just another
reason to avoid exposing other people to your smoke, and if you
are not a smoker to stay away from smoking places."
Maria Carrillo, director of medical and scientific relations
for the Alzheimer's Association, said this study offers more
evidence of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the risk for
dementia. Smoking is already recognized as a risk factor for
Alzheimer's, and the risk can be extended to exposure to
secondhand smoke, she said.
"There are findings that secondhand smoke can be just as
detrimental as smoking itself," Carrillo said. "We recommend
that people do not smoke and try to reduce their exposure to
secondhand smoke as well."
Dr. Mark Eisner, an associate professor of medicine at the
University of California, San Francisco, and author of an
accompanying editorial in the journal, said, "This study should
provide further motivation for public policy aimed at making all
public spaces smoke-free."
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) -- People exposed to secondhand smoke may face
as much as a 44 percent increased risk of developing dementia, a
new study suggests.
While previous research has established a connection between
smoking and increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease,
this new study is the largest review to date showing a link
between secondhand smoke and the threat of dementia, the authors
said.
"There is an association between cognitive function, which is
often but not necessarily a precursor of dementia, and exposure
to passive smoking," said lead researcher Iain Lang, a research
fellow in the Public Health and Epidemiology Group at Peninsula
Medical School in Exeter, England.
What's more, Lang said, the risk of impaired cognitive function
increases with the amount of exposure to secondhand smoke, the
findings suggest. "For people at the highest levels of exposure,
the risk is probably higher," he said.
The study was published online Feb. 13 in the journalBMJ.com.
For the study, Lang's team collected data on more than 4,800
nonsmokers who were over 50 years old. The researchers tested
saliva samples from these people for levels of cotinine, a
product of nicotine that can be found in saliva for about 25
hours after exposure to smoke.
The study participants also took neuropsychological tests to
assess brain function and cognitive impairment. These tests
evaluated memory, math and verbal skills. People whose scores
were in the lowest 10 percent were classified as having some
level of cognitive impairment.
The researchers found that people with the highest cotinine
levels had a 44 percent increased risk of cognitive impairment,
compared with people with the lowest cotinine levels. And, while
the risk of impairment was lower in people with lower cotinine
levels, the risk was still significant.
"We know that active smoking is bad -- being a smoker is bad
for your health and increases your risk of Alzheimer's. This
study suggests that this is the same for passive smoking," Lang
said. "We know that passive smoking is associated with an
increased risk of stroke and heart disease. This is just another
reason to avoid exposing other people to your smoke, and if you
are not a smoker to stay away from smoking places."
Maria Carrillo, director of medical and scientific relations
for the Alzheimer's Association, said this study offers more
evidence of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the risk for
dementia. Smoking is already recognized as a risk factor for
Alzheimer's, and the risk can be extended to exposure to
secondhand smoke, she said.
"There are findings that secondhand smoke can be just as
detrimental as smoking itself," Carrillo said. "We recommend
that people do not smoke and try to reduce their exposure to
secondhand smoke as well."
Dr. Mark Eisner, an associate professor of medicine at the
University of California, San Francisco, and author of an
accompanying editorial in the journal, said, "This study should
provide further motivation for public policy aimed at making all
public spaces smoke-free."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
REDUCE BACK PAIN DURING PREGNANCY
Pregnancy greatly increases a woman’s vulnerability to back problems during and after birth. Did you know that at least half of pregnant women experience back pain during pregnancy?
Studies have proven that chiropractic care greatly reduces the amount of pain and discomfort throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 1991 revealed that 84% of patients who received spinal manipulative therapy (chiropractic care) reported a decrease in back pain while pregnant.
Another study reported in the book “Chiropractic Pediatrician” showed that regular chiropractic adjustments reduced labor times by an average of 33%.
Pregnancy greatly increases a woman’s vulnerability to back problems during and after birth. Did you know that at least half of pregnant women experience back pain during pregnancy?
Studies have proven that chiropractic care greatly reduces the amount of pain and discomfort throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 1991 revealed that 84% of patients who received spinal manipulative therapy (chiropractic care) reported a decrease in back pain while pregnant.
Another study reported in the book “Chiropractic Pediatrician” showed that regular chiropractic adjustments reduced labor times by an average of 33%.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Migraine Headaches
MIGRAINE HEADACHES
Chiropractic treatment has been proven successful in easing any number of painful ailments, including the debilitating migraine headache. Numerous case histories have emerged from chiropractic care of people with restricted or misaligned vertebrae in the neck who have suffered from these terrible headaches. Problems with the vertebrae can be congenital, meaning you’re born with them, or can be caused by trauma, an injury, or by gradual deterioration. Vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine and encase the spinal cord and nerves that emanate from it, when not in proper alignment, can pinch nerves and cause headaches, including the painful migraine.
Correcting misalignments of the vertebrae, can cut down if not eliminate migraine headaches. People who have not visited a chiropractor sometimes have a preconceived notion that the manipulation will hurt. That notion is false. Chiropractors use their hands and fingers to apply controlled pressure to trouble spots on the spine. Correcting spinal alignment can help with a host of ailments, including migraine headaches. Talk with a chiropractor about the numerous ways you could benefit from treatment.
Brought to you as a community service by
.
Dr James Stapleton D.C
Chiropractic treatment has been proven successful in easing any number of painful ailments, including the debilitating migraine headache. Numerous case histories have emerged from chiropractic care of people with restricted or misaligned vertebrae in the neck who have suffered from these terrible headaches. Problems with the vertebrae can be congenital, meaning you’re born with them, or can be caused by trauma, an injury, or by gradual deterioration. Vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine and encase the spinal cord and nerves that emanate from it, when not in proper alignment, can pinch nerves and cause headaches, including the painful migraine.
Correcting misalignments of the vertebrae, can cut down if not eliminate migraine headaches. People who have not visited a chiropractor sometimes have a preconceived notion that the manipulation will hurt. That notion is false. Chiropractors use their hands and fingers to apply controlled pressure to trouble spots on the spine. Correcting spinal alignment can help with a host of ailments, including migraine headaches. Talk with a chiropractor about the numerous ways you could benefit from treatment.
Brought to you as a community service by
.
Dr James Stapleton D.C
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Back Pain Statistics
Back Pain Facts & Statistics
Although doctors of chiropractic treat more than just back pain, a large percentage of chiropractic patients visit their doctor looking for relief from this pervasive condition. In fact, 70 to 85 percent of all people have back pain at some time in their life.
A few interesting facts regarding back pain:
_ Low back pain is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits in the United States (1,2)
_ Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old.(3)
_ Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
_ Approximately one quarter of U.S. adults reported having low back pain lasting at least one whole day in the past three months2, and 7.6 percent reported at least one episode of severe acute low back pain within a one-year period.(4)
_ Low back pain is also very costly: approximately 5 percent of people with back pain disability account for 75 percent of the costs associated with low back pain.(5)
_ One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. (6)
Approximately 2 percent of the U.S. work force is compensated for back injuries each year.(7)
_ Americans spend at least $50 Billion per year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.(8)
If a person has back pain, what should they do?
If your back pain is not resolving quickly, visit your doctor of chiropractic. Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that your doctor of chiropractic can address. Many chiropractic patients with relatively long-lasting or recurring back pain feel improvement shortly after starting chiropractic treatment. The relief is often greater after a month of chiropractic treatment than after seeing a family physician.
The chiropractic approach is to find the cause of the pain and treat it directly. This may involve realigning the spine or extremities by chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy for the muscles and ligaments, rehabilitative exercises, or a combination of these. Sometimes the doctor of chiropractic will suggest exercises or activities to prevent a reoccurrence of the problem. This may provide a long term solution to the condition through prevention.
Tips to Prevent Back Pain
Some back pain is caused by non-preventable factors (traumatic accidents, congenital defects,tumors), but the majority of low back pain is preventable.
Suggestions on how you can prevent back pain include:
• Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
• Remain active.
• Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
• Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities.
• Maintain proper posture.
• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
• Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
• Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
• Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
• Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your workstation is ergonomically correct.
References:
1. Hart LG, Deyo RA, Cherkin DC. Physician office visits for low back pain. Frequency, clinical evaluation, and treatment patterns from a U.S. national survey. Spine. 1995;20:11-9.
2. Deyo RA, Mirza SK, Martin BI. Back pain prevalence and visit rates: estimates from U.S. national surveys, 2002. Spine. 2006;31:2724-7.
3. National Institutes of Health
4. Carey TS, Evans AT, Hadler NM, Lieberman G, Kalsbeek WD, Jackman AM, et al. Acute severe low back pain. A population-based study of prevalence and care-seeking. Spine. 1996;21:339-44.
5. Frymoyer JW, Cats-Baril WL. An overview of the incidences and costs of low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am. 1991;22:263-71.
6. Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.
7. Andersson GB. Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. Lancet. 1999;354:581-5.
8. This total represents only the more readily identifiable costs for medical care, workers compensation payments and time lost from work. It does not include costs associated with lost personal income due to acquired physical limitation resulting from a back problem and lost employer productivity due to employee medical absence. In Project Briefs: Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). In MEDTEP Update, Vol. 1 Issue 1, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD, Summer 1994.
Although doctors of chiropractic treat more than just back pain, a large percentage of chiropractic patients visit their doctor looking for relief from this pervasive condition. In fact, 70 to 85 percent of all people have back pain at some time in their life.
A few interesting facts regarding back pain:
_ Low back pain is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits in the United States (1,2)
_ Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old.(3)
_ Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
_ Approximately one quarter of U.S. adults reported having low back pain lasting at least one whole day in the past three months2, and 7.6 percent reported at least one episode of severe acute low back pain within a one-year period.(4)
_ Low back pain is also very costly: approximately 5 percent of people with back pain disability account for 75 percent of the costs associated with low back pain.(5)
_ One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. (6)
Approximately 2 percent of the U.S. work force is compensated for back injuries each year.(7)
_ Americans spend at least $50 Billion per year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.(8)
If a person has back pain, what should they do?
If your back pain is not resolving quickly, visit your doctor of chiropractic. Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that your doctor of chiropractic can address. Many chiropractic patients with relatively long-lasting or recurring back pain feel improvement shortly after starting chiropractic treatment. The relief is often greater after a month of chiropractic treatment than after seeing a family physician.
The chiropractic approach is to find the cause of the pain and treat it directly. This may involve realigning the spine or extremities by chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy for the muscles and ligaments, rehabilitative exercises, or a combination of these. Sometimes the doctor of chiropractic will suggest exercises or activities to prevent a reoccurrence of the problem. This may provide a long term solution to the condition through prevention.
Tips to Prevent Back Pain
Some back pain is caused by non-preventable factors (traumatic accidents, congenital defects,tumors), but the majority of low back pain is preventable.
Suggestions on how you can prevent back pain include:
• Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
• Remain active.
• Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
• Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities.
• Maintain proper posture.
• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
• Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
• Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
• Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
• Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your workstation is ergonomically correct.
References:
1. Hart LG, Deyo RA, Cherkin DC. Physician office visits for low back pain. Frequency, clinical evaluation, and treatment patterns from a U.S. national survey. Spine. 1995;20:11-9.
2. Deyo RA, Mirza SK, Martin BI. Back pain prevalence and visit rates: estimates from U.S. national surveys, 2002. Spine. 2006;31:2724-7.
3. National Institutes of Health
4. Carey TS, Evans AT, Hadler NM, Lieberman G, Kalsbeek WD, Jackman AM, et al. Acute severe low back pain. A population-based study of prevalence and care-seeking. Spine. 1996;21:339-44.
5. Frymoyer JW, Cats-Baril WL. An overview of the incidences and costs of low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am. 1991;22:263-71.
6. Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.
7. Andersson GB. Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. Lancet. 1999;354:581-5.
8. This total represents only the more readily identifiable costs for medical care, workers compensation payments and time lost from work. It does not include costs associated with lost personal income due to acquired physical limitation resulting from a back problem and lost employer productivity due to employee medical absence. In Project Briefs: Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). In MEDTEP Update, Vol. 1 Issue 1, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD, Summer 1994.
Monday, March 2, 2009
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