This post is not intended to start a debate on whether or not one should be vaccinated for the flu. I think that vaccinations need to be an independent decision. I do encourage patients to educate themselves on both sides of the vaccination debate...that includes vaccinations for children as well as vaccinations for yearly illness (such as the flu).
With that said, a study recently came out about the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. Actually, this was a review of many flu vaccine studies. I think that most people feel that getting the flu vaccine makes the chances of "catching" the flu almost non-existent. Well, it turns out that this is far from the truth. The new data shows that for adults between the ages of 18-65, the flu vaccine is only 59% effective! Personally, this was very surprising to me. There are certainly situations outside of this demographic where the flu vaccine appears to be warranted, but knowing some of the side effects possible with the vaccine, I would stick with keeping my body healthy through proper nutrition and activities if I was in this age range.
I have never gotten the flu vaccine and I feel this has been the right decision for me. With this new information, I would have to think long and hard before getting the flu shot. I feel bad for individuals working in environments (mostly hospitals) who are forced to receive the vaccine in order to continue working. I think that this oversteps bounderies of personal freedom and choice. I only wonder if this new information will make some of these workplaces reconsider their positions.
Again, choosing whether or not to vaccinate is an individual decision. Make sure to educate yourself on every substance that goes into your body. Also, be aware that there is not a magical shot or vaccine that will prevent all disease. You must take care of your body through diet, exercise and peace of mind.
To read more about this study, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/flu-vaccine-effectiveness.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
More proof exercise is good for the heart!
Recent findings in Sweden demonstrate that men with higher levels of testosterone had less risk for developing heart disease and/or having a stroke. To be specific, the study showed those in the highest testosterone grouping had 30% less risk for these occurrences.
The question then becomes...How do men keep their testosterone level high as they age? One option is HRT (hormone replacement therapy). HRT in women has been shown to actually lead to more heart disease and strokes. With that said, there is a safe alternative...exercise! Exercise increases lean muscle mass and will keep testosterone levels higher than they would be without it.
I encourage every patient of mine to exercise is some fashion. This doesn't mean they must go to a fitness facility and lift weights. Exercise comes in many forms, from taking brisk walks to pool aerobics to organized sports. The type of exercise often is not important...the act of exercising in some form is very important!
To read more about this study, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/testosterone-heart-risk.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
The question then becomes...How do men keep their testosterone level high as they age? One option is HRT (hormone replacement therapy). HRT in women has been shown to actually lead to more heart disease and strokes. With that said, there is a safe alternative...exercise! Exercise increases lean muscle mass and will keep testosterone levels higher than they would be without it.
I encourage every patient of mine to exercise is some fashion. This doesn't mean they must go to a fitness facility and lift weights. Exercise comes in many forms, from taking brisk walks to pool aerobics to organized sports. The type of exercise often is not important...the act of exercising in some form is very important!
To read more about this study, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/testosterone-heart-risk.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Study shows benefits of massage therapy for low back pain
A new study from the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that massage therapy can be beneficial to chronic low back pain. Study subjects were separated into 3 groups. One group received no massage therapy and were allowed to handle their low back pain with a method of their choosing (sometimes nothing at all). The other two groups received relaxing (Swedish) massage and problem-focused massage therapy.
Both massage groups showed much better post-study results in regards to reduction in low back pain symptoms. Approximately one-third of the massage group participants stated their back pain was either minimal or completely alleviated after the treatment period compared with only a few percent of those in the self-treatment group.
Massage therapy can indeed be extremely beneficial to patients. When used in conjunction with conservative chiropractic care and core strengthening, the benefits are limitless and long-lasting. Another perk is that, in some cases, massage therapy is covered by health insurance.
To read more about this study, follow this link: www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/massage-for-low-back-pain.html.
If you have any questions regarding the benefits of massage therapy, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Both massage groups showed much better post-study results in regards to reduction in low back pain symptoms. Approximately one-third of the massage group participants stated their back pain was either minimal or completely alleviated after the treatment period compared with only a few percent of those in the self-treatment group.
Massage therapy can indeed be extremely beneficial to patients. When used in conjunction with conservative chiropractic care and core strengthening, the benefits are limitless and long-lasting. Another perk is that, in some cases, massage therapy is covered by health insurance.
To read more about this study, follow this link: www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/massage-for-low-back-pain.html.
If you have any questions regarding the benefits of massage therapy, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Chronic Pain Abundant Among Americans!
In the past few days, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) came out with a report stating that approximately 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. The estimated cost to treatment of their pain is around $600 million per year! That represents about of third of all United States citizens living with pain. That's astonishing!
The recommendations by the IOM actually talk about prevention of disease and pain. This is a very different approach than our current system of disease management. While this is a good first indicator that preventative measures beginning to gain steam, it is a far stretch from where we need to be as a society.
The recommendations are that primary care doctors need to be in charge of managing their patients' pain and specialists should only be referred to in "complex cases." While this sounds like a grand idea, a major problem exists. Medical school and residency for PCPs teach very little about disease prevention in regards to musculoskeletal pain (one of the major contributors to chronic pain). While medical doctors are great at recognizing illness and disease, there is almost no emphasis in allopathic medicine in preventing pain in these types of cases.
As a chiropractor, I am consistantly talking to patients about things they can do to stay healthy and prevent disease. One of the foundations of chiropractic is disease prevention. Unfortunately, I think that placing care of chronic musculoskeletal-driven pain patients in the hands of many PCPs would only result in those patients receiving prescriptions for medications to deal with their pain. While some patients do indeed need medicine, many times they need other forms of care to actually rid themselves of the causitive factors leading to the pain.
I feel that chronic pain generated by issues dealing with the musculoskeletal system, such as back pain, is best managed by physical medicine practitioners. Included in this group would be chiropractors, physical therapists, naprapaths and massage therapists. Once the pain-generating problems are address, these patients can lead a much healthier, pain-free lives.
For more on the IOM report, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/chronic-pain-in-america.html.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
The recommendations by the IOM actually talk about prevention of disease and pain. This is a very different approach than our current system of disease management. While this is a good first indicator that preventative measures beginning to gain steam, it is a far stretch from where we need to be as a society.
The recommendations are that primary care doctors need to be in charge of managing their patients' pain and specialists should only be referred to in "complex cases." While this sounds like a grand idea, a major problem exists. Medical school and residency for PCPs teach very little about disease prevention in regards to musculoskeletal pain (one of the major contributors to chronic pain). While medical doctors are great at recognizing illness and disease, there is almost no emphasis in allopathic medicine in preventing pain in these types of cases.
As a chiropractor, I am consistantly talking to patients about things they can do to stay healthy and prevent disease. One of the foundations of chiropractic is disease prevention. Unfortunately, I think that placing care of chronic musculoskeletal-driven pain patients in the hands of many PCPs would only result in those patients receiving prescriptions for medications to deal with their pain. While some patients do indeed need medicine, many times they need other forms of care to actually rid themselves of the causitive factors leading to the pain.
I feel that chronic pain generated by issues dealing with the musculoskeletal system, such as back pain, is best managed by physical medicine practitioners. Included in this group would be chiropractors, physical therapists, naprapaths and massage therapists. Once the pain-generating problems are address, these patients can lead a much healthier, pain-free lives.
For more on the IOM report, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/chronic-pain-in-america.html.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Friday, June 10, 2011
FDA warns about high doses of popular cholesterol medication!
Zocor (also known generically as simvastatin) is a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug. It is part of the statin group of drugs (also including the popular drug Lipitor). These drugs have produced amazing results in lowering bad cholesterol and total cholesterol in patients. With there great success, however, there are shortfalls!
In order to effectively lower cholesterol, statin drugs must affect many processes in the body. Whenever one aspect of the bodies' complex system is disturbed, there are going to be unwanted effects on other parts of the body. Sometimes these negative effects are seen as aches and pains, while often times they are silently occurring.
Statin drugs are notorious for causing the side effect symptoms of muscle fatigue and weakness. Why is this? Basically, statins cause deterioration of the muscle fibers, especially at higher doses. The kidneys then have to process all of the leftovers from this muscle breakdown. This process places a great deal of stress on the kidneys and, at high enough levels, can lead to kidney disease and even kidney failure.
The effect on both the muscles and the kidneys of high-dose simvastatin (80mg) has led the FDA to warn against long-term use of high dosages. Why are patients taking such high doses to begin with? Well, physicians are constantly trying to reduce their patients cholesterol levels to lower and lower levels. At some point, a doctor must say that the level is low enough as to not have such negative side effects on other body parts.
Perhaps a better approach to lowering cholesterol is to actually counsel patients on nutrition and proper diet before prescribing them drugs. If diet changes are not enough, then start the patient on low dose statins. Unfortunately, this approach is much tougher and takes a bigger commitment from both the patient and the doctor. But, I think it's worth the effort!
If you have any questions about your cholesterol levels or health in general, please call us at (847) 673-6600 or visit us at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
In order to effectively lower cholesterol, statin drugs must affect many processes in the body. Whenever one aspect of the bodies' complex system is disturbed, there are going to be unwanted effects on other parts of the body. Sometimes these negative effects are seen as aches and pains, while often times they are silently occurring.
Statin drugs are notorious for causing the side effect symptoms of muscle fatigue and weakness. Why is this? Basically, statins cause deterioration of the muscle fibers, especially at higher doses. The kidneys then have to process all of the leftovers from this muscle breakdown. This process places a great deal of stress on the kidneys and, at high enough levels, can lead to kidney disease and even kidney failure.
The effect on both the muscles and the kidneys of high-dose simvastatin (80mg) has led the FDA to warn against long-term use of high dosages. Why are patients taking such high doses to begin with? Well, physicians are constantly trying to reduce their patients cholesterol levels to lower and lower levels. At some point, a doctor must say that the level is low enough as to not have such negative side effects on other body parts.
Perhaps a better approach to lowering cholesterol is to actually counsel patients on nutrition and proper diet before prescribing them drugs. If diet changes are not enough, then start the patient on low dose statins. Unfortunately, this approach is much tougher and takes a bigger commitment from both the patient and the doctor. But, I think it's worth the effort!
If you have any questions about your cholesterol levels or health in general, please call us at (847) 673-6600 or visit us at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Do you know what's in your OTC meds?
People seem to take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Advil like candy. While these medicines are relatively safe for short-term use, many people take them daily with no awareness of the possible side effects.
The most common side effects of these meds deal with damage to the gastrointestinal system, primarily the stomach and liver. Long term use of many of these drugs can cause serious disfunction and/or damage to these organs.
What many people do not realize is that, most of the time, the medicines are merely masking their symptoms and not fixing the cause of their pain/discomfort. Addressing the cause is vital to long-term pain relief!
Additionally, there are many natural herbs and supplements that can be used in place of OTC painkillers. These natural remedies have far fewer and less severe side effects than their pharmaceutical counterparts. For example, willow bark is a natural painkiller that is chemically similar to aspirin. However, willow bark is not digested in the stomach. This leads to a far less likely risk of ulcers.
Be sure to ask your health care provider what alternatives to OTC medications are available to you and make your health a priority!
For more information on this topic, follow this link for an interesting article on peoples' awareness of OTC medications: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/otc-medicine-side-effects.html.
For more information on this topic or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
The most common side effects of these meds deal with damage to the gastrointestinal system, primarily the stomach and liver. Long term use of many of these drugs can cause serious disfunction and/or damage to these organs.
What many people do not realize is that, most of the time, the medicines are merely masking their symptoms and not fixing the cause of their pain/discomfort. Addressing the cause is vital to long-term pain relief!
Additionally, there are many natural herbs and supplements that can be used in place of OTC painkillers. These natural remedies have far fewer and less severe side effects than their pharmaceutical counterparts. For example, willow bark is a natural painkiller that is chemically similar to aspirin. However, willow bark is not digested in the stomach. This leads to a far less likely risk of ulcers.
Be sure to ask your health care provider what alternatives to OTC medications are available to you and make your health a priority!
For more information on this topic, follow this link for an interesting article on peoples' awareness of OTC medications: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/otc-medicine-side-effects.html.
For more information on this topic or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Zinc may help fight the common cold afterall!
A new review of previous studies on the effectiveness of zinc has been released. The review was performed by the Cochrane Collaboration. The most important part of this review, in their own words, is that "zinc supplementation for at least five months reduces incidence, school absenteeism and prescription of antibiotics for children with the common cold."
In addition to zinc, taking vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin D have been shown to help fight the common cold. Various supplements, such as echinacea and probiotics, can help keep you healthy as well. Some of these will have side effects if taken inappropriately, so make sure to do your homework and talk to your doctor before starting any regiment of vitamins or supplements.
Still, there are some basic strategies that must be followed to ensure your immune system is running efficiently. First, be sure to get consistant sleep. There are some studies that say you need 8 hours of sleep, others state only 6 hours are needed. The important aspect of sleep is getting to bed at roughly the same time and getting up at the same time...day in and day out! Also, diet plays a crucial role in immunity. Make sure to eat fresh foods, particularly fruits and dark green veggies. Stay away from processed and fast foods. These foods will simply stress your immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses. Instead, try to eat lean meats and fresh-water fish. As always, make sure to drink plenty of water!
With flu-season still upon us, be sure to wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth when coughing! These are just a few tips for staying healthy through the cold winter months!
If you would like more information about the zinc review, please follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/zinc-for-common-cold.html.
If you have any further questions about how to keep yourself healthy this year, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com.
In addition to zinc, taking vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin D have been shown to help fight the common cold. Various supplements, such as echinacea and probiotics, can help keep you healthy as well. Some of these will have side effects if taken inappropriately, so make sure to do your homework and talk to your doctor before starting any regiment of vitamins or supplements.
Still, there are some basic strategies that must be followed to ensure your immune system is running efficiently. First, be sure to get consistant sleep. There are some studies that say you need 8 hours of sleep, others state only 6 hours are needed. The important aspect of sleep is getting to bed at roughly the same time and getting up at the same time...day in and day out! Also, diet plays a crucial role in immunity. Make sure to eat fresh foods, particularly fruits and dark green veggies. Stay away from processed and fast foods. These foods will simply stress your immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses. Instead, try to eat lean meats and fresh-water fish. As always, make sure to drink plenty of water!
With flu-season still upon us, be sure to wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth when coughing! These are just a few tips for staying healthy through the cold winter months!
If you would like more information about the zinc review, please follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/zinc-for-common-cold.html.
If you have any further questions about how to keep yourself healthy this year, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Do Your Meds Have Side Effects?
I was talking to my mother the other day about a relative who suffers from chronic heart disease. This relative is on numerous medications for such things as high blood pressure and cholesterol. This is certainly understandable as many prescription medications on the market today have been shown to greatly reduce risks associated with such conditions as heart disease. However, every medication has a price. The price for my relative was unbearable muscle soreness. After consulting his physician, the medication was changed. The surprising fact is that his medication wasn't changed because of the muscle pain, but rather his physician told him that the medication causing his pain may not be very effective at treating heart disease (more on that later).
Most patients who suffer from heart disease are most certainly on a medication to lower cholesterol. The leading class of these drugs are referred to as statin drugs. It is well accepted that statin drugs do a terrific job in lowering LDL levels (bad cholesterol) in individuals. What often is not addressed are the serious side effects that can go along with statin drugs. Besides for muscle pains like my relative experienced, side effects include liver damage, digestive problems and neurological side effects. If a person is aware that these side effects can occur, they will not be caught off-guard when they experience them.
Back to my relative coming off of his statin drug. I researched the particular drug and found that some studies have indicated that it shows no benefit to either lowering cholesterol or preventing heart disease. I simply wonder why this drug is being prescribed at the large amounts it is without proof of its effectiveness? I think that drugs like these that have the potential for serious side effects must be shown without a shadow of doubt to be beneficial to patients. If that benefit cannot be substantiated, then they should be pulled off the market. At the very least, doctors prescribing these drugs should have a high standard for the medications their patients receive.
I am not suggesting to avoid drugs such as statin drugs, but do educate yourself and have a conversation with your doctor. Along with your physician, decide on the appropriate way to treat you condition(s). Sometimes this decision may be to do nothing at all, and that's ok. The general perception is that todays drugs make us healthier and, while many have life-changing benefits, that may not always be the case.
If you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600. As always, check us out at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Most patients who suffer from heart disease are most certainly on a medication to lower cholesterol. The leading class of these drugs are referred to as statin drugs. It is well accepted that statin drugs do a terrific job in lowering LDL levels (bad cholesterol) in individuals. What often is not addressed are the serious side effects that can go along with statin drugs. Besides for muscle pains like my relative experienced, side effects include liver damage, digestive problems and neurological side effects. If a person is aware that these side effects can occur, they will not be caught off-guard when they experience them.
Back to my relative coming off of his statin drug. I researched the particular drug and found that some studies have indicated that it shows no benefit to either lowering cholesterol or preventing heart disease. I simply wonder why this drug is being prescribed at the large amounts it is without proof of its effectiveness? I think that drugs like these that have the potential for serious side effects must be shown without a shadow of doubt to be beneficial to patients. If that benefit cannot be substantiated, then they should be pulled off the market. At the very least, doctors prescribing these drugs should have a high standard for the medications their patients receive.
I am not suggesting to avoid drugs such as statin drugs, but do educate yourself and have a conversation with your doctor. Along with your physician, decide on the appropriate way to treat you condition(s). Sometimes this decision may be to do nothing at all, and that's ok. The general perception is that todays drugs make us healthier and, while many have life-changing benefits, that may not always be the case.
If you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600. As always, check us out at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Friday, January 7, 2011
DNA test may help predict progression of scoliosis in children
A relatively new test is now available that may help save many children with mild scoliosis unnecesary treatment. The test looks at various genetic markers and can help determine the appropriate treatment. The test is currently being used on 9-13 year old girls with a scoliotic curve of 10-25 degrees. A low score in this test can indicate that further treatment is not needed.
The typically treatment for scoliosis prior to this new test is frequent examinations and x-rays to monitor the progression of the abnormal curve. Patients in the at-risk category are commonly fitted with a brace that is worn nearly all of the time. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to stop curve progression. This new test can help doctors determine which patients should be braced (a socially awkward scenario for growing teens).
In addition to typical medical treatments that focus on limiting the progression of scoliosis but fail to address the symptomatic aspect of the disease, chiropractic treatment for scoliosis can be very benefitial to ensure the proper function of the spinal joints. Scoliotic patients often have various aches and pains caused by the abnormal curve. Chiropractic can help alleviate much of the discomfort caused by scoliosis.
If you would like to read more about the new DNA test, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/dna-test-for-scoliosis.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
The typically treatment for scoliosis prior to this new test is frequent examinations and x-rays to monitor the progression of the abnormal curve. Patients in the at-risk category are commonly fitted with a brace that is worn nearly all of the time. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to stop curve progression. This new test can help doctors determine which patients should be braced (a socially awkward scenario for growing teens).
In addition to typical medical treatments that focus on limiting the progression of scoliosis but fail to address the symptomatic aspect of the disease, chiropractic treatment for scoliosis can be very benefitial to ensure the proper function of the spinal joints. Scoliotic patients often have various aches and pains caused by the abnormal curve. Chiropractic can help alleviate much of the discomfort caused by scoliosis.
If you would like to read more about the new DNA test, follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/dna-test-for-scoliosis.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Are New Vitamin D Recommendations Good Enough?
Earlier this year, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) put out new recommendations on Vitamin D supplementation. While the institute did raise the daily recommendations of the vitamin in every age group, many experts still feel that the recommended daily amounts are too low. Basically, they now recommend between 600-800 IU/day for adults. This approximately doubles the previous recommendations but is nowhere near the 2,000-4,000 many experts recommend.
Vitamin D is vital in many processes in the body. Some Vitamin D is obtained from food, but most comes from exposure to sun. For individuals with limited sun exposure or those that live in less sunny climates, supplementation is needed to reach appropriate daily doses of the vitamin. Some of the reported benefits of Vitamin D include decreased risk of cancer, weight control, prevention of osteoporosis, increased immunity and better brain function with aging.
The debate over how much Vitamin D is needed daily will continue between experts. Important to note is that each individuals need may vary depending on age, race, where they live and their overall health status. It is important for individuals to discuss vitamin D with their doctors and take the appropriate steps to proper supplementation.
If you would like to read more about the new Vitamin D recommendations, follow this link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/vitamin-d-recommendations.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
Vitamin D is vital in many processes in the body. Some Vitamin D is obtained from food, but most comes from exposure to sun. For individuals with limited sun exposure or those that live in less sunny climates, supplementation is needed to reach appropriate daily doses of the vitamin. Some of the reported benefits of Vitamin D include decreased risk of cancer, weight control, prevention of osteoporosis, increased immunity and better brain function with aging.
The debate over how much Vitamin D is needed daily will continue between experts. Important to note is that each individuals need may vary depending on age, race, where they live and their overall health status. It is important for individuals to discuss vitamin D with their doctors and take the appropriate steps to proper supplementation.
If you would like to read more about the new Vitamin D recommendations, follow this link: http://www.healinghandsofskokie.com/vitamin-d-recommendations.html.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please contact Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com/!
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