Interesting article on spinal fusion outcomes

I happened to run across a study from a few years back (2010) that looked at two groups of patients from Ohio that had similar low back conditions and diagnoses. One group opted to have a spinal fusion surgery while the second group did not have any surgery. The outcomes two years after the surgery are remarkable.

First investigated was the percentage of low back surgery patients that had returned to work vs. the percentage of non-surgery patients returning to work. While 67% of the non-surgery group was back working, only a meager 26% of surgical patients had returned to work! I should mention that this was a study of around 1,450 patients from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation database. The priority in these cases is to get people back to working condition. The spinal fusion recipients certainly were not obtaining the desired outcomes in this case.

The second aspect of treatment investigated was the percentage of patients taking pain medication. And not just Tylenol or Advil, but opiates that are highly addictive. The surgery group in this aspect saw a 41% increase in the use of these drugs versus patients that elected to pass on surgery. Again, a staggering number!

What can be learned from studies such as these? First, always use major surgery as a last resort to deal with back pain. Indeed, there are cases where it is absolutely necessary and will give the best long-term outcome. But, in many, many cases there are other avenues to rid yourself of pain (such as chiropractic of course!). One last statistic I will give you is that there are over 600,000 back surgeries performed in the US every year. An astounding 400,000 or so of these are major fusion operations. With outcomes such as in the study described above, please carefully consider all options before going under the knife!

If you would like to read more about this study, follow this link.

If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on our website.

More benefits from breastfeeding!

It seems that every few months I will see a story on the news about the many benefits of breastfeeding. The list of benefits for both the baby and mother is vast. Benefits to the baby include immunity to illness, lowered risk of asthma/allergies and lower rates of obesity later in life. For the mom, breastfeeding is terrific bonding time with a newborn, helps shed off the "baby weight" and reduces the risk of postpartum depression.

It now appears that breastfed babies may be smarter adults! A new study from Harvard University indicates that babies who are breastfed longer have higher intelligence scores later in life. Specifically, the children were found to have higher language and intelligence scores at the ages of 3 and 7, respectively. Who doesn't want their children to have more intelligence?

Current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics are that babies should be exclusively breastfed until 6 months. After solids are introduced, it is recommended that mothers continue breastfeeding until the child turns 1 year of age.

To read more on this new study, please follow this link.

If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on our website.

Is the food industry scared?

I recently ran across this linked article on Yahoo. I find it interesting because of the style of writing...written in first person from the food industry to the consumer. I think that the article gives a good sense of the philosophy that the food industry possesses in regards to the American diet. Often times, our society shifts from one fad diet or way of eating to another. The food industry loves when we do this because it makes their marketing strategy simple to deploy. For example, when people start thinking that fat content is the problem, the industry does a terrific job of putting out low-fat or no-fat options for the foods we love. When carbs are evil, the industry creates products (even alcoholic products) that are marketed as "low-carb."

What people need to realize at some point is that, more than fats/carbs/cholesterol/etc., the main problem with the food we eat is simply in the way it is made. The industrial approach to all foods slowly poisons those who ingest them. While this is nothing new...additives and chemicals have been added to food for a long time...the percentage of food that is engineered continues to rise. All you have to do is look at the rate of disease processes that are directly related to diet...diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. All of these are affecting individuals at younger and younger ages. The number of Type II diabetic children alone is staggering.

While eating completely organic, free-range, farm-raised foods is often too expensive for the average families' budget, efforts need to be made to eat less toxic foods. You can start by changing small things in your diet. For example, pay attention to the "dirty dozen." Avoiding these foods or choosing organic varieties can be a healthy kick start to changing your entire diet. Continue to take small strides forward until a majority of your diet falls within healthy parameters and you will be assured a longer, healthier lifespan.

If you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on our website.

Best evidence-based treatment for acute sciatica...

Recently, I was talking to a patient about the effectiveness of a variety of treatments for acute sciatica. Depending on what type of doctor you see, the most effective treatment seems to vary greatly. If you consult a Physiatrist, you will most likely be referred to PT. See an Orthopedic Surgeon, a good oral steroid or steroid injection is probably in the cards. See your PCP (family doctor, internist, general practitioner) and you will probably be told to take ibuprofen or again referred to physical therapy. See me, a Chiropractor, and I'll tell you that you've come to the right place!

So who is right? While there isn't always a correct answer for this question, evidence definitely points in my favor! According to a review of evidence-based research done by the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2007, chiropractic is shown to be the most effective conservative treatment for acute sciatica. For reference, here is the link to the published article.

What also surprised me when I researched the effectiveness of various treatments for acute sciatica was the lack of effectiveness of oral steroids. I could not find a single study showing them to be helpful. Instead, the available studies tend to show that placebo is as effective as oral steriods for this condition...here is an example study.

Acute sciatica can be very debilitating and can linger for a long time (often many weeks). The earlier treatment is sought, the better results tend to be. If you have any questions about sciatica or chiropractic in general, definitely call our office. You can find more information at our website.

Be Wary of Grapefruits

Many people are not aware that grapefruits and grapefruit juice can have negative interactions with certain medications. While in the past the list of medications with possible interactions was short, a new study shows many more medicines have potentially dangerous side effects.

How could grapefruits be bad? Grapefruits have active chemicals that act synergistically with certain medications. That is, they can boost the effect of the medicine by putting a much higher amount of the active chemical into the bloodstream. For example, drinking grapefruit juice in conjunction with the drug symvastatin (a common cholesterol medication) led to a concentration of symvastatin 330% higher than normal. Drugs such as symvastatin can have potentially dangerous side effects without this synergy, making the drug especially dangerous when taken with grapefruit.

I always recommend that patients take a minute and talk to there pharmacist to review any and all medications they are taking. Pharmacists are often under-utilized by the public and can be a great asset to evaluate any negative effects of medications. To read more about grapefruits interaction with certain medications, follow this link.

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!

High blood pressure can lead to early brain disease!

A study from researchers at the University of California - Davis shows that young people with high blood pressure have a higher incidence of brain disease early in life. In fact, the results show that by 40 years of age, a person with hypertension (high blood pressure) has a brain that appears 7.2 years older than the same individual with normal blood pressure.

Taking care of our bodies, especially our hearts, is crucial to living a long and fruitful life. We must make sure that our blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels and other markers are all within healthy ranges to prevent very costly and dangerous conditions later in life. This should be done, when at all possible, through diet changes and exercise!

To read more about this study, you can follow this link.

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!

Acupuncture Study Shows Great Benefits

Acupuncture has been used for centuries as a primary source of healthcare for millions across the world. However, there has always been a debate about how effective the treatments really are at achieving lasting results. We frequently use acupuncture for treatment of various problems at Healing Hands Wellness, but a lack of scientific data for its' effectiveness is hard to explain to patients. We often rely on anecdotel evidence to explain the benefits of acupuncture. A new analysis of 29 studies may help us reference more sound evidence when recommending acupuncture to patients.

A recent analysis of acupuncture in 18,000 patients showed very promising results in reduction of neck pain, low back pain, pain associated with arthritis and headaches. The use of acupuncture showed to relieve pain better than a placebo treatment and significantly better than seeking no treatment at all. These findings are very encouraging to both patients looking for treatment options other than drugs or surgery. It also offers practitioners another treatment option for those with chronic pain.

You can read more about the study analysis here...Acupuncture analysis.

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!

Pets help young children!

A new study out of Finland (and published in the journal Pediatrics) showed that children growing up with pets (namely cats and dogs) had fewer respiratory infections during their first year of life. Also, the children had fewer ear infections and needed less antibiotics during that year. The theory is that pets help stress a newborns immune system. The stress to the system ultimately strengthens the child's immunity.

Today, there is a lot of paranoia about excessive cleanliness for children. And while we want a clean home and relatively clean environment, too much sanitizing can have a negative affect on our lives and the lives of our children. The immune system becomes strong through "exercise." Our immunity needs to be tested in order to develop antibodies against harmful microorganisms. Overly sanitizing our children prevents them for forming the proper immunity and exposes them to health problems in the future. Perhaps the best example of "exercising" our immune system is the use of vaccines. The vaccines force our bodies to form antibodies against harmful organisms and, hopefully, prevent us from contracting serious conditions.

So, teach your children to wash their hands and use cleanliness in their lives, but let them play in the dirt! Let them exercise their immune systems so that they can grow into healthier adults. If you want to read more on this study, please follow this link.

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!

Ginseng helps with fatigue effect of cancer

Ginseng has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help people with fatigue. In a recent study reported at an American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, ginseng was seen effectively reduce fatigue associating with cancer and cancer treatment. After 8 weeks of ginseng use, patients had significantly less fatigue when using ginseng versus those taking a placebo. More research is needed, but this study shows that ginseng use may be promising to those suffering from cancer-related fatigue.

Seen as a natural "energy-booster," ginseng has been used for thousands of years. While the exact mechanism of ginseng is unknown, it appears to have many benefits.

Ginseng is most commonly credited with:

• aphrodisiac properties — improving libido and sexual performance (shown in laboratory rats), sometimes a treatment for erectile dysfunction
• improving mental and physical performance — some use it to increase concentration and information retention, athletes use it to enhance performance
• boosting the immune system — it has been shown to increase white blood cell counts in humans, also believed to help the ill or weak regain strength and vigor
• anti-depressive effects
• sedative effects
• decreasing appetite
• lowering blood glucose
• relieving symptoms related to menopause

Several studies have shown that ginseng can improve thinking and learning when taken in daily doses of 200 to 400 milligrams of standardized extract for 12 weeks. Studies also report that ginseng may stimulate activity of immune cells in the body (T-lymphocytes and neutrophils), and improve the effectiveness of antibiotics and flu vaccines. Use of ginseng has also improved erectile function, sexual desire, and intercourse satisfaction in studies of patients with erectile dysfunction.

How does one herb achieve all this? The "magic ingredients" are most likely the active chemical compounds, called ginsenosides or panaxosides, contained mostly in the root, but also in the leaves and seeds of the plant. Over 20 different ginsenosides have been identified. Perceptive readers may have noticed that some of the uses of ginseng seem to contradict each other, such as acting as both a sedative and a stimulant. This remarkable capability to affect the body in different ways is due to the fact that while the various panaxosides are similar in structure, they can exert opposing effects. For example, the panaxoside Rb-1 acts as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, having a stress-reducing effect with anticonvulsant, analgesic, and antipsychotic properties. But panaxoside Rg-1 is stimulating to the CNS, serving to ward off fatigue, increase performance, and possibly turn you on.

It's recommended that you follow the dosages prescribed on the box, or by an herbalist. A typical dosage is about 0.5 to 2 grams dry root daily, or 200 to 600 ml liquid extract daily. Be careful to avoid taking ginseng in larger doses than recommended, or simultaneously with other stimulants such as tea, coffee, or MAO inhibitors (anti-depressants). Diabetics should also be cognizant of ginseng's potential to lower blood sugar, and take that into consideration when administering insulin or eating. As with many herbs, pregnant or breast-feeding women should probably not take ginseng, as effects are unknown.

Some side effects are possible, and are most likely to occur with overuse, overdose, or allergies. Typical side effects include headaches, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset like diarrhea or vomiting, breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities, high blood pressure, and skin eruptions. If you experience any of these side effects while taking the supplement, you may want to lower your dose, or stop taking it altogether to see if the symptoms cease. Also, inform your health care provider about ginseng or any herbal supplement you are taking, especially if you are taking prescription medication. It's important that people who use ginseng or any herb understand that natural medicines are not regulated by the FDA, and that there may be both long and short-term side effects not yet discovered. Because ginseng and other supplements are not regulated, you always want to choose a reputable supplement company.

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!

Is it more expensive to eat healthy?

There is a general assumption in our country that eating healthy is too expensive. For this reason, many people (parents included) decide to buy "inexpensive" and unhealthy foods. Examples include pre-processed and junk foods. The fact is, for these people it is better to have cheap, unhealthy food than no food at all. Unfortunately, people are misinformed about the cost of eating healthy!

A new report shows that assuming healthy food is expensive doesn't hold water. In fact, if you're judging food by weight and not calorie content, eating healthier foods is LESS expensive than junk foods. This is a better way to judge the price of food because, simply put, a majority of us consume too many calories each day. Food quality is better gauged by nutrient content than by calorie content. For example, a person can eat a bag of chips and consume 1,000 calories without getting any real nutritional value from the chips. What this type of diet eventually will give people is obesity and a handful of health problems that go along with it.

A better way to approach eating is to eat all kinds of fruits and veggies. In doing this, you won't be consuming countless calories but will be getting all sorts of vitamins and minerals. Throw in some lean meats for protein (or healthy substitutes for vegetarians). With this type of diet, you will get plenty of calories to maintain a healthy weight and all sorts of positive benefits to your overall health. Also, you will quickly see that this eating approach doesn't cost much in comparison to an unhealthy diet. You'll be saving plenty by not buying $5 bags of chips and $6 quarts of ice cream!

To read more on the new report, check out this direct link to it: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib96/.

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!