U.S. News & Report 5-08-13
WEDNESDAY, May 8 (Health Day News) -- Exercise appears to change the way women's bodies metabolize the hormone estrogen, and this could help explain how aerobic activity reduces a woman's breast cancer risk, a new study suggests.
Starting with Chiropractic Saves 40% on Low Back Pain Care
A new study finds that low back pain care initiated with a doctor of chiropractic (DC) saves 40 percent on health care costs when compared with care initiated through a medical doctor (MD), the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) announced today. The study, featuring data from 85,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries, concludes that insurance companies that restrict access to chiropractic care for low back pain treatment may inadvertently pay more for care than they would if they removed such restrictions.
Exercise may help those at higher risk for Alzheimer's
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
A new study finds that an active lifestyle may help protect against Alzheimer's-related brain changes in people who have a well-known genetic risk factor. This factor is the e4 allele (version) of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene.
Breast cancer risk can be reduced through lifestyle changes
Avoiding unnecessary medical radiation and tobacco smoke and exercising regularly might lower women's chances of contracting the disease, a new IOM report says.
By CHRISTINE S. MOYER, amednews staff. Posted Dec. 19, 2011.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/12/19/hlsa1219.htm
Dynamic Chiropractic – May 20, 2012, Vol. 30, Issue 11
Chiropractic Before Spine Surgery for Chronic LBP
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Plan mandates conservative care
before considering surgery for chronic LBP cases.
By Peter W. Crownfield, Executive Editor
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan, a health maintenance organization
affiliated with the university’s School of Medicine, has adopted landmark guidelines for the management of
chronic low back pain. As of Jan. 1, 2012, candidates for spine surgery must receive "prior authorization to
determine medical necessity," which includes verification that the patient has "tried and failed a 3-month
course of conservative management that included physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, and medication."
Chiropractic Care Beats Medication for Neck Pain, Makes Headlines New research published this month in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) and exercise more effective at relieving neck pain than pain medication. The study divided participants into three groups that received either SMT from a doctor of chiropractic, pain medication (over-the-counter pain relievers, narcotics and muscle relaxants) or exercise recommendations. After 12 weeks, about 57 percent of those who met with DCs and 48 percent who exercised reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to 33 percent of the people in the medication group. After one year, approximately 53 percent of the drug-free groups still reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain; compared to just 38 percent pain reduction among those who took medication.
Destress Your Life In 10 Easy Steps
10 Ways To Decrease Stress, Increase Mindful Meditation In Your Life
By Danny Penman and Mark WilliamsSpecial to CNN
POSTED: 7:15 am EST January 17, 2012
UPDATED: 7:37 am EST January 17, 2012
(CNN) -- The gloomy days of January can be the most miserable and stressful of the year, but it doesn't have to be this way. If you follow this ten step guide to destressing your life, then the next few weeks just might become the most serene and fulfilling ones of the year.
The study, funded by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and co-authored by ACA's 2011 Researcher of the Year Dr. Roni Evans, is making headlines across the country. The results of the study have appeared in AARP Blog, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, WebMD and "World News with Diane Sawyer" among other media outlets.
Dynamic Chiropractic – May 20, 2012, Vol. 30, Issue 11
Chiropractic Before Spine Surgery for Chronic LBP
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Plan mandates conservative care
before considering surgery for chronic LBP cases.
By Peter W. Crownfield, Executive Editor
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan, a health maintenance organization affiliated with the university’s School of Medicine, has adopted landmark guidelines for the management of chronic low back pain. As of Jan. 1, 2012, candidates for spine surgery must receive "prior authorization to determine medical necessity," which includes verification that the patient has "tried and failed a 3-month course of conservative management that included physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, and medication."
Surgery candidates also must be graduates of the plan’s LBP health coaching program. The program features a Web-based decision-making tool designed to help plan members "understand the pros and cons of surgery and high-tech radiology." It is the first reported implementation of such a policy by a health care plan.
CHIROPRACTIC RISKS: WHAT DOES THE EVIDENCE SAY?
Ian Coulter, Ph.D., published an article in the September 1998 issue of the journal Integrative Medicine, volume I, number 2, entitled "Efficacy and Risks of Chiropractic Manipulation: What Does the Evidence Suggest?" The article is a discussion of data obtained by the Rand Corporation regarding safety and efficacy of lumbar and cervical adjusting.
Here is the key data:
? Over 90% of all manipulation in the US is performed by chiropractors.
? Risk of complication with cervical adjusting is 6.39 per 10 million
? Risk of complication with lumbar adjusting is 1 in 100 million.
Compare this to:
? Risk of complication for use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (such as; Motrin, aspirin, Tylenol, Naprosyn, etc.) is 3.2 per 1 thousand, or 32,000 per 10 million.
? Risk of complication with cervical spine surgery is 15.6 per 1 thousand, or 156,000 per 10 million.
Comparing the numbers, cervical spine adjustments are:
? 24,413 times less likely to cause complications than surgery, and
? 5,008 times less likely to cause complications than NSAIDs.
Conclusion:
Chiropractic care is 5,000 times safer than drugs! It comes as no surprise that of the people who utilize chiropractic care, many choose chiropractic first, and consider medicine to be the "alternative" health care system.
06/01/11 As published in StarCityHealth.com
CHRONIC ILLNESS AND DISEASE=THE NUMBER ONE KILLER
Eight out of ten people have been diagnosed with a chronic illness or disease. Approximately eight million dollars a minute is spent on it, why then are we are producing the sickest generation in the history of mankind. What is wrong?
As stated by: Richard H. Camonra M.D. M.P.H. FACS 17th Surgeon General of the United States in: Almanac of Chronic Disease, 2009 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, “The reality is that our current health care system is not truly serving our health needs. We have focused on treating illness rather than promoting prevention and wellness. The negative consequences of this sick-care system are taking a toll on our health, our economic stability and the futures of our children and grandchildren.”
What’s the answer=healthier people and fewer sick people. The recognized healthcare treatments for the last fifty years are not working. Health care reform sounds great however, to continue to put more & more of our hard-earned money into things that have proven ineffective is absurd. It does not make any common sense! What to do?
You have to become knowledgeable and responsible for your healthcare. You must learn how to prevent chronic illness and disease. Drugs and surgery are great at saving lives but something different is needed for prevention and wellness. Have you been informed how to prevent chronic illness and disease? The current literature proves the only way to prevent these problems is through the changing of your lifestyle choices. Chronic stress is the real cause. Sitting all day causes chronic stress, your job, family, and driving all can contribute to chronic stress. What is so bad about chronic stress? It results in your body being in a state of “fight or flight” for extended periods of time resulting in the continuous overproduction of stress hormones. This “fight or flight” survival mechanism was designed to last for a very short period of time, 5-10 minutes. You either fight you way out or run away from the danger. It should not last for hours, days, weeks, months or longer. What are these stress hormones doing in your body? They increase blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, changes brain function, decrease blood flow to parts of the body and decreases your immune system. Overproduction leads to fatigue, depression and ends with early death. Your body was designed to live 120 years. Chronic stress speeds up the aging processes. Humans are the only animal species that can interrupt this stress cycle and lower our emotional stress levels with our thoughts and perceptions.
Your daily lifestyle choices have to become healthier. Less white bread, white milk, white sugar and more exercise is the place to start. Do you realize humans are the only mammal species that drink the milk of other mammals? Our bodies were designed to have only human breast milk and then water. Our original diet consisted of wild (range fed) meat, wild fish, fruits and vegetables period! You have to look at your life and determine what is causing you stress in your life and then find a way to reduce or eliminate the stress as quickly as possible. Go into a room and yell or scream, hit a punching bag, squeeze a tennis ball, go for a walk. Do something to relax and think positive thoughts! I have a saying in my office, “move easily, eat naturally and think positively”. If your body is not moving the way it was designed see your doctor of chiropractic. Your life depends upon a properly functioning spine and nervous system. Chiropractors are the only profession with over 10, 000 hours in wellness and self healing of the human body. I have been helping people for the last 35 years with natural treatments. We need drugs and surgery to save lives but they are not for Wellness & Prevention. Your life is in your hands!
Dr. Randy McCracken
