May 2013 Health Newsletter

For those of you who have been under care with our office, you have probably heard my expression: "A few visits now will save many visits later." I say this because it is important to understand the necessity for getting care as soon as possible following an accident or injury. The longer an injury sets in, the longer it takes to get it better. In some cases, if too much time has passed-those changes can be impossible to correct.

Did you know how stressful it is to deal with the problems that arise after an auto accident? Were you also aware that some auto accident injuries are hidden and are seldom detected for months or even years? As a result, often an injury is not taken care of properly, or the accident victims settle their case without being evaluated by a doctor trained in soft tissue injuries-such as a chiropractor. 

Wait a Minute...This Could Be A Big Mistake!

Why? Because once you settle your case, you lose the right to have your insurance company pay for treatment if you need it. A good rule of thumb is to be informed of your rights and then make a decision. It is our position that if you were indeed injured, you should get the care you need to get you back to the way you felt and functioned just before the accident. 

It is not the responsibility of the insurance company to pay for anything more than that. They are not responsibile for pre-existing injuries; only the injuries sustained from the accident. Even if you experience achiness or soreness, you should get checked out immediately because you may experience pain, numbness, headaches, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and other problems including arthritis many months down the road. Remember, nothing is more important than your health, especially when you start to lose it. 

Here's where the problem begins... Most people who suffer from an auto accident have one thing on their mind: their automobile!

Common questions include:

• "Who is going to fix my car?"
• "What will I drive in the mean time?"
• "Will my insurance rates go up?"
• "Who is going to pay for it?"
  
• And the last thing on their mind is: "Am I Really O.K.?"

Not only are auto accidents an inconvenience and a hassle, a common redundant complaint of auto accident victims is that they don't feel like their normal selves. You may also be experiencing obvious pains and symptoms like muscle stiffness or spasm, neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling, back pain, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and many other difficulties. Or worse than that, you may be injured and feel nothing at all. 

Either way, did you know that auto accidents can cause post-traumatic osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis can ruin your posture (giving you a slumped or hump back appearance). Osteoarthritis can cause the discs in your spine to degenerate and create scar tissue formation leading to chronic stiffness and the inability to move properly.

As a matter of fact...

• Most Medical Doctors are not trained in the detection of these hidden injuries...
• If you have been in an auto accident, you need a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body; someone who treats these injuries every day. In addition,x-rays may be necessary to find out if there has been any structural damage. In our office, we evaluate auto accident victims and make any appropriate referrals to other health care providers if needed.
• Our primary responsibility is giving you the care if you need It, and submitting the required medical reports to the insurance company so your rights are protected.
• Remember-if we can't help you, we will refer you to a doctor or facility that can.

If you have been in an auto accident recently, there are some important decisions you have to make. You need to be sure to make these decisions very carefully. The sooner you get care-the better (and quicker) the outcome.

Drive safe and be safe!

We hear frequently that our predisposition towards a
particular illness can be found in our genes. All kinds of genetic tests have
been developed that can tell us if we're prone to cancer, heart disease,
alzheimer's, etc, etc, etc.  Does having
a particular gene mean we're going to become ill? By scientific logic, if we
have a gene for cancer/heart disease/alzheimer's, then we must get it.  Right now, you may be thinking, "What? Is
this true?" 

In fact it is.  If we
have a gene that is a code for cancer, we must 100% of the time get cancer in
order for it to truly be "the cancer gene". 
But this doesn't happen 100% of the time, does it? More accurately, a
gene may have the coding for a specific type of cancer, but it must be "switched
on" in order to express itself.  In other
words, the correct environment or stimuli must occur in order for that
particular gene to turn on and do its job (create cancer).  This explains why two people may have the
same gene for cancer but only one of them may actually have it in their
lifetime.

Humans have had the same genetic code for the last ten
thousand years, yet only in the last century or more have chronic illness
exploded.  Why now?  For the first time in our history, we do not
live in an environment that supports our genetic code.  Our genetics are still based on the
hunter-gatherer period. We moved, we ate more vegetables than grains and meats
and we were family/tribe –centered. 
Today, we have forgotten how to eat. We have toxins in every part of our
environment—from our housing and clothing, to our soils and water sources. We
rely on a sickness paradigm in which we treat symptoms rather than on a
wellness paradigm where we address the cause~ i.e. we "fight the illness/disease"
rather than remove the stressor causing the illness or disease.

Rather than using our genes as an excuse for the prevalence
or predisposition towards an illness, we can use them as a guide for
long-lasting health. We are programmed to live 120 years by these very genes.  Living with a more purposeful goal of creating
an environment in which our genes thrive can add years to our life (and life to
our years).  

How do we do this? Eat organically as much as possible.
Reduce grains and meats and eliminate processed foods from your nutrition.
Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily—and make sure it's
good water.   Get your sleep, move your
body, and be conscious of your thoughts. 
Many of our daily stressors come from our very own thoughts.  Focus on the positive, find enjoyment in
daily activities, and let those around you know how much you care for
them.  By taking responsibility for the
environment around us—our very lives—we can help our bodies be well and stay
well.

Highlighting the need to explore non-invasive treatment alternatives for back pain such as chiropractic care, medical researchers have concluded that a common surgical procedure designed to relieve back pain, instead exposes patients to a 29 percent greater risk of developing a degenerative spinal condition. The study, conducted in Nantong, China, examined the medical histories of over 35,000 back-pain surgery patients who underwent a spinal fusion to relieve the pain. After the procedure, 29 percent of the patients developed adjacent segment degeneration (or ASD), a long-term degenerative condition of the spine. ADS patients often experience new back problems and pain symptoms to previously non-injured vertebrae. In a spinal fusion, a surgeon fuses faulty vertebrae together with supplementary bone tissue to immobilize the area and relieve pain. After a spinal fusion, patients are unable to move the fused vertebrae, which forces intervertebral joints above and below the surgery site to do double duty to make up for the now-immovable portion of the spine. The researchers concluded that the extra wear and tear on these vertebrae results in the degenerative condition. They also recommended that patients explore alternatives to surgery, including chiropractic care, before consulting a surgeon.

A new study comparing the benefits of massage and exercise has concluded that working out is as effective as massage at relieving the aches and pains of sore muscles. The research, conducted by the National Research Center for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, asked 20 participants to perform a shoulder exercise designed to engage both of the trapezius muscles between the neck and shoulders. Two days later, the subjects returned to the lab and rated the pain of the aching muscles on a scale of one to ten. The average pain experienced by the participants was described as a five. Subjects then received a 10 minute massage on one shoulder and spent 10 minutes exercising the other. Participants were asked again to rate their pain. Both massage and exercise offered relief, with massage decreasing the pain by an average of .07 points and exercise relieving an average of .08. Researchers are unclear how massage or exercise relieve soreness, but believe that they help to clear out metabolic byproducts associated with tissue damage.

According to a new European study, drinking more than one 12-ounce soda a month can increase your chances of developing diabetes by nearly 23 percent. Researchers at Imperial College London tracked data from 350,000 people in eight European countries. Participants were questioned about their diet, including how many sugary and artificially sweetened soft drinks and juices they drank each day. The researchers found that every 12 fluid ounce sugar-sweetened drink the participants consumed raised their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 22 percent. 12 ounces is the normal serving size of a can of Coca-Cola, Pepsi or other soft drinks. Interestingly, fruit juice consumption was not linked to diabetes incidence. The European study's findings confirm recent research in the US, where several similar studies have linked sugar-sweetened drinks to diabetes and higher body weight. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition characterized by insulin resistance. The World Health Organization estimates that currently more than 310 million people worldwide suffer from the disease.

Arlington, Va.—Chiropractic physicians are ready to provide key support to patients who are trying to create healthy working environments, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). This reminder comes as communities across the country this week observe National Public Health Week (NPHW), which promotes creating a healthy workplace on Wednesday, April 3.

The theme of NPHW 2013—“Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money"—promotes the value of prevention and the importance of well-supported public health systems in preventing disease, saving lives and curbing health care spending. For more than 100 years, the chiropractic profession has promoted prevention as a key component of health and wellness, and a growing body of research shows that chiropractic services reduce health care spending.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 musculoskeletal disorders made up 33 percent of all work-related injury and illness cases. When considering the impact of proper ergonomics on workplace safety, ACA stresses three basic principles:

    1.    When lifting, the largest muscles in the area should perform the task. The larger the muscle or muscle group used for lifting, the lower the stress on smaller, more vulnerable muscles.

    2.    During any work activities, people should be able to comfortably assume a number of different postures and not remain in one position for an extended time. Muscles will fatigue and be more prone to injury when assuming a particular posture, especially a poor one (e.g., partially bent forward at the waist).

    3.    When performing tasks, it is important to keep the joints either in their neutral posture or approximately halfway into the range of motion. Working with your joints at the extremes of their ranges of motion for prolonged periods places abnormal stresses on them and can cause repetitive stress injuries.

“Our bodies are not designed to maintain the same posture for long periods of time or to repeat the same motions endlessly,” said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. “Stretches and exercises can help prevent pain and injury. There are also natural, cost-effective approaches to treating pain, such as chiropractic services, that can help patients avoid unnecessary drugs or surgery.”

For more information about creating a healthier working environment, please visit ACA’s website for health and wellness tips.

Since 1995, when the first full week of April was declared NPHW by the American Public Health Association (APHA), communities across the country have recognized the contributions of public health and highlighted issues important to improving public health. APHA creates planning and outreach materials that can be used year round to raise awareness. APHA has featured a section devoted to chiropractic and the role that DCs play in public health since 1995.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and professional ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.