August 2010 Health Newsletter

 Wellness Tip: Understanding the Mystery of Vertigo

People with vertigo know that the law of gravity prevails, but their brains get confused. They experience an illusion of movement, feeling like they are tilting in space, or that the world is spinning or moving around them. Nausea, sweating, headaches, vomiting and fatigue may add to their discomfort.

Causes of Vertigo

• Vertigo can be caused by many problems, most of which originate in the peripheral or central nervous system.
• The causes of vertigo that stem from the peripheral nervous system include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), acute vestibular neuronitis, labyrinthitis and Ménière’s disease.
• Acoustic neuroma, migraines, cervicogenic vertigo and multiple sclerosis are all related to the central nervous system.
• Vertigo can also be caused by a wide variety of medications such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, diuretics, barbiturates, salicylates (e.g., aspirin), sedatives or hypnotics, some prescription and over-the-counter cold medicines, and some antibiotics and antineoplastics.
• Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, high blood triglycerides, hypoglycemia, and food allergies or gluten sensitivity can also cause or worsen vertigo.
• Motor vehicle accidents, falls or other types of traumas or illnesses can also be associated with vertigo.
• To diagnose the cause of vertigo, your health care provider will perform an examination, including a variety of positioning tests, to check if they will reproduce the sensation of motion. Other tests may also be necessary.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

• About 65 percent of vertigo is diagnosed as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)—a result of calcium debris in the inner ear.
• BPPV is usually treated through the Epley maneuver—a procedure in which the patient is rapidly moved from lying on one side to lying on the other, to move the calcium debris to a less sensitive location in the inner ear.
• Studies show that up to 80 percent of patients recover after a single treatment with Epley maneuver, and most BPPV cases respond to two to three treatments with Epley.
• Epley maneuver is contraindicated in patients with severe carotid stenosis, heart diseases and severe neck problems, such as cervical spondylosis with myelopathy or advanced rheumatoid arthritis.
• Even without treatment, BPPV tends to resolve in weeks or months and also has a tendency to recur.
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises (called the Brandt-Daroff exercises) can also be performed at home to help treat BPPV.

Other Types of Vertigo

• Treatment for vertigo caused by other conditions depends on the individual case.
• Ménière’s disease patients can benefit from a low-salt diet.
• Treatment for vertigo associated with migraine headaches should include dietary changes, such as reduction or elimination of aspartame, chocolate, alcohol and caffeine, in addition to exercise, stress reduction, adequate sleep, and vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
• Vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis, which are often attributed to viral infections, can also be treated with vestibular exercises.
• Working with your doctor of chiropractic to improve postural issues can also bring relief to the patients whose vertigo is exacerbated by sedentary lifestyle or working in certain positions for extended periods.
• In patients with cervicogenic vertigo, a general ergonomic assessment of work and life activities can help identify the factors contributing to the problem.

Nutrition and Stress Reduction

• Alcohol, nicotine, fried foods and excessive salt intake are potential sources of trouble for patients of vertigo.
• Vincopectine, vitamin B₆ and ginkgo biloba may be helpful in reducing vertigo. 
• Chromium may be helpful in patients whose vertigo is caused by a blood sugar imbalance.
• Physical exercise and meditation, adequate sleep and other stress reduction techniques can all help contribute to recovery from vertigo and should be a part of the treatment regimen.
• Your doctor of chiropractic can help create an appropriate exercise program for you and counsel you regarding healthy lifestyle and stress relief. 

Red Flags
Vertigo patients who present with the following signs should immediately go to the emergency room:

• double vision
• headache
• weakness
• difficulty speaking
• difficulty waking up or staying awake
• difficulty walking
• inappropriate actions
• difficulty controlling arms or legs
• abnormal eye movements.

 Many of my clients remark, "Ear Stapling has changed my life."   So, What is Ear Stapling? . . . It is inexpensive, fast & easy!   · Variation of Auriculotherapy- Auriculotherapy is the activation of pressure points in the earthat are thought to correspond to organs in the body. This therapy is related to Acupuncture, Acupressure and Auricular Therapy. There are believed to be hundreds of reflex points in the outer ear, all corresponding to areas of our body.   · Tiny Surgical Staple- A sterile surgical staple, much smaller than a household staple, is placedin one of these key positions in the middle cartilage of the ear, depending on which part of the body is being targeted. Usually, both ears are stapled at the same time for maximum effectiveness. The staples are thought to provide continuous stimulation to the targeted organs in the body.   · Sending a Message- The slight pressure from the staples releases endorphins andcommunicates with your brain. These two factors seem to work together to assist in curbing your appetite, creating distaste with smoking products, and providing relief from the pain of migraines or discomfort of IBS and Acid Reflux. In addition, the staples create a sensation of thirst, the relief of which through drinking lots of water assists in your desire to curb negative behaviors.  · The Basics- Only a slight pinch is experienced, similar to getting your ears pierced; staples canthen stay in for up to 6 months, but usually within 12 weeks or so most people have either met their goals or have the procedure performed again to jump-start continued success.   Is Ear Stapling Right for You?   · Positive Attitude- Ear stapling has had an excellent success rate. Ask a friend or relativewho's had the staples inserted for weight loss or smoking cessation. You'll find that people with a positive attitude and a true desire to lose weight or quit smoking have had true success. If you believe that you can be successful, you have an excellent chance of seeing real results quickly.   · Ear Stapling Works Fast- Most people immediately experience an increased presence ofendorphins, and for the weight loss staple, a dramatically reduced appetite. Within a few days of being stapled, smokers are turned off by the smell and taste of their cigarettes. For some, the effects take up to a week or so to begin, but then come on strong.   · Inexpensive- Ear stapling is one of the most cost effective ways to lose weight or quitsmoking. No drugs, no supplements, no lengthy procedures.       Judith Toscano, N.D. comes to Balance Chiropractic to provide this service. Call for your appointment, you have no excuse not to benefit from this easy treatment!

It is not uncommon to have patients initially begin chiropractic treatment for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Oftentimes, it is not until an accident occurs that people assess what they actually have for insurance. It is frustrating for patients when they think they have one type of coverage, only to find out that their interpretation of full coverage is very different than what they actually have. So what is full auto insurance? Although this definition can alter between companies, generally it means that you have Liability Coverage and Comprehensive & Collision coverage.  Notice that I did not include Med-Pay, Towing, Rental etc., as these are additional coverages that can be purchased with the policy. This is why a yearly insurance review is very important. 

Let's look at the important coverages:

1. Liability: Sometimes shown as bodily injury/property damage. This is the coverage that will protect your assets from a lawsuit if you hit someone and it is your fault. It covers the injury and car damage to the person you hit. Many agents suggest that people carry at least $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident in these litigious times because you do not want to be personally responsible for another person's claims if they should exceed your coverage. This coverage also takes care of legal representation in the event that you are sued for such an accident.  

2. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage: This is the second most important coverage because it covers YOU, if someone hits you and they are at fault.  If the other driver hit you and did not carry sufficient liability insurance, then your medical bills and lost wages may exceed his coverages. The old saying "you can't get blood from a stone" rings true in this circumstance. If the other driver has no insurance or is under insured, this coverage kicks in where his coverage leaves off and pays the rest of your claim. In a serious accident this coverage is invaluable.

3. Comprehensive Collision coverage:  Comprehensive covers losses to your vehicle resulting from hail, flood, deer impacts, fire, etc. Collision coverage pays for your damages if you are at fault.  These coverages have a deductible that you can choose.

4. MedPay is an elective coverage on your automobile policy. The typical coverage amount is $2000 or $5000 per occurrence, but can range upwards of $20,000. If you or anyone in the covered vehicle is injured in an accident, regardless of who was at fault, it will pay for medical transportation, treatment and expenses.  Usually your expenses are paid as incurred and you don't have to wait for liability decisions and other issues that may delay such payments. It is a great coverage to accelerate medical processing, as your insurance would not dictate who you have to see. I have had patients involved in collisions that have been hurt considerably and they would have accrued a tremendous amount of debt if it had not been for their MedPay policy.

The best advice: get your policy reviewed to ensure that you and your assets are protected. Unfortunately, most people do not realize they are not properly covered until it is too late.

Japanese researchers have found home-based exercises to be more effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain than prescribed NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). While NSAIDs can reduce inflammation and pain, they are a form of passive care that fails to address functionality issues such as limited motion, muscular weakness and muscular imbalances, not to mention the many negative side effects associated with NSAID use. Home-based exercises are not only natural and far safer, they specifically address functional issues and deficiencies in a proactive manner. And thus, it goes to reason that both men and women (mean age of approx. 42 years) who participated in the home-based exercises versus the NSAIDs during the 12-month study experienced more significant improvements in both reported low back pain and overall disability.

New research indicates vitamin D may be effective at reducing infections and colds. In this new study, researchers found that a group of young military men who supplemented with 400 IU’s (international units) daily for 6 months versus those who supplemented with a placebo experienced a significantly higher likelihood of having no days missed from work due to a respiratory illness. Moreover, of those taking the vitamin D supplement half remained healthy during the 6-month study as compared with approximately just one third of those taking the placebo. While more studies are needed, this new research does appear to indicate some benefits of vitamin D in reducing sickness or at least, the severity of sickness. It should be noted that vitamin D when taken in higher dosages is toxic and negative side effects can and do occur beyond 2,000 IU’s per day.

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to those suffering from autism. However, past research hasn’t been able to provide evidence that antidepressants are actually useful for those diagnosed with autism. A recent U.S. government funded study reported that antidepressants, more specifically Celexa, was no better than a placebo for improving repetitive behaviors in children with autism. Researchers have now completed a new review of this study along with six other related studies present in the medical literature. Their findings – there was no evidence that antidepressants were any better than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors or any other symptoms in children suffering from autism. According to the researchers who conducted this recent scientific review of medical literature, there is no basis for recommending the routine use of antidepressants in the treatment of austism.