Chiropractic Care Safer for Most Seniors

Chiropractic treatment is widely accepted as a safe and effective treatment for spinal issues, including sciatica, back and neck pain.  With increasing age, the likelihood of suffering with one of these conditions increases.  Because of that, some researchers wanted to investigate whether chiropractic treatment is as safe for the elderly as it is for younger patients.  They undertook a study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and subsequently published in Spine.

They researched whether the risk of injury to people aged 66 and older after seeing a chiropractor for an issue involving the nervous system, muscles and spine was more, less or equal to the risk of injury following a visit to their primary care physician for that kind of issue.  Their study was based on recipients of Medicare Part B who were treated for these conditions in 2007.  They evaluated the risk of injury for seven days following their treatment.

They found that the risk of injury within seven days of a chiropractic treatment was 76% lower than the risk of injury within seven days of medical treatment for comparable neuromusculoskeletal conditions.  The risk of injury post-treatment was highest for males, older participants and those with co-existing serious conditions.  Chiropractic was determined to be a significantly safer treatment option for seniors experiencing conditions related to the nerves, muscles or bones, except for those with specific medical conditions such as coagulation defects (or long term use of blood thinners), inflammatory spondylopathy, osteoporosis, or aortic aneurysm and dissection, 

In short, if you, or someone you love is a senior who is experiencing pain or weakness related to the nerves, muscles and spine, you should talk to a trusted chiropractor and give them your complete medical history.  If you or they are a good candidate for chiropractic care, it may be the safer option for treatment in the long run.

The Bitter Truth About High Fructose Corn Syrup

Sugar is sugar?  Right?  Wrong!

Too much sugar of any kind can contribute to obesity and metabolic problems, but used in moderation, traditional cane sugar is considered relatively safe.  However, over the past couple of decades, food manufacturers, who are always putting profit ahead of the health of their customers have been replacing it more and more with high fructose corn syrup, which unlike pure cane sugar, is NOT a natural product.  Fructose does not occur naturally in corn, and is only developed through intensive chemical processing.

You may have heard that the term "natural" on labels doesn't mean much, but legislators are starting to change that because products that contain HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) are no longer allowed to use the word "natural" on their labels.

Since the introduction of HFCS into the American food supply, we are on the verge of an epidemic of lifestyle-induced health issues including obesity, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.  Excess consumption of fructose from HFCS has been associated with other health issues such as elevated triglyceride levels, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gout, and complications of diabetes.

If you drink soda, eat packaged cakes or cookies or use sweet spreads or syrups, you are most likely consuming a very large amount of high fructose corn syrup.   It is found in a surprising array of foods where you might not expect it, like ketchup, mayonnaise, bread, crackers and the snack that's thought to be healthy, but isn't - granola bars.  "Pancake syrup" as opposed to pure maple syrup is close to 100% high fructose corn syrup.  Many "juice drinks" contain HFCS.  Buy pure juice instead.  "Table sugar" may be cut with HFCS.  Look for "pure cane sugar" and make sure your honey is pure as well.

The food industry is always looking for ways to hide information like this from consumers and use ingredients that will increase their profits.  The healthiest foods to eat are fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts.  Low fat meats, poultry, and fish can also be good choices, as can free-range eggs and minimally processed dairy products.  Locally produced and/or organic varieties are best, both for you and the planet.  If you are going to eat packaged food products, please READ LABELS!  Don't assume anything, because HFCS and other harmful ingredients are routinely added to all kinds of processed food.

You may be tempted to substitute non-caloric sweeteners for both sugar and HFCS to save calories.  It's not a bad idea, but if you do, consider stevia or inulin, which are natural alternatives to saccharine, aspartame and the other artificial options.  Better yet, learn to appreciate the natural sweetness in foods like fruits and sweet vegetables, or use a small amount of honey, maple syrup or ground dates to sweeten your food.  You future will be much sweeter.

A carefully planned program of nutritional supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc.) can help protect the body from the negative effects of consuming too much HFCS, and may be used in addition to dietary changes that limit your intake of HFCS.  Beneficial nutrients include benfotiamine, alpha-lipoic acid, carnosine, pyridoxamine, acetyl-L-carnitine, vitamin C, and fish oil.

At Wantagh Woods Chiropractic and Wellness, we help our patients to live healthier lives with nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling in addition to chiropractic adjustments and other means of natural pain relief.  If you are hoping to retain your vitality well into your senior years, give up HFCS and come in to see us.  You'll be glad you did.

 

Get in the Swing: Chiropractic Improves Your Golf Game

Golf is a year round sport in other parts of the country, and even here on Long Island, there are die-hard golfers who will brave any kind of weather to get a few rounds in, but summer is the time when everyone on Long Island who owns a golf club is out on the greens.  Long Island boasts roughly 125 golf courses between Nassau and Suffolk Counties, yet trying to reserve a tee time can be a challenge.

That means that there are a lot of people who are walking long distances over uneven terrain, standing around waiting, carrying heavy golf bags, bending, twisting and swinging, all in the name of fun.  It also means there are a lot of people suffering from golfer's back, and their game is suffering as well, because you can't perform at your best when you're in pain.

There are over 30 million golfers in the United States and surveys have shown that at least 80% of them experience back pain, which may be related to their favorite pastime.  "Golf back" is a recognized phenomenon, but the physical stresses associated with playing golf may also result in neck pain, shoulder, pain, elbow pain and hip pain. A proper golf swing puts the body in a awkward position and creates a tremendous amount of torque, which can leave you suffering from pain in various body parts, especially in older golfers.

You may choose to tough it out and work through the pain, but it's not advisable.  Not only will ignoring your pain probably make matters worse and continue to exacerbate the underlying condition, but your game will suffer as well.  How can you expect to execute the perfect swing when you can barely stand straight?

You might also choose to mask the pain with over the counter pain medication, like acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) or ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Motrin and Advil).  These remedies might be acceptable for use in the short term, but just because they are sold over the counter doesn't mean they are harmless.  Long term use of ibuprofen can contribute to stomach problems, including ulcers and exacerbate bleeding.  Acetaminophen, in large doses can be toxic to the liver.  One of our previous articles on this blog was about the dangers of acetaminophen.

Your other option is to seek safe, natural Chiropractic care to help treat your pain and avoid any further injury.  At Wantagh Woods Chiropractic, Dr. Barbara Rosinsky uses gentle Chiropractic manipulation and other passive therapies to treat pain and injuries.  Chiropractic adjustments help to keep the spine in optimal alignment, which can go a long way toward preventing injury during golf or other sports.

If you want to get back to enjoying your game, call us to make an appointment for a free Chiropractic evaluation.  Your game will thank you.

Summer Injuries? Chiropractic Can Help

If your family is like most American families, summertime is your most active season.  The favorable weather gets you outdoors, engaging in your favorite sports and activities.  Perhaps your busy lifestyle keeps you from pursuing the physical activities you enjoy, but when you're on vacation, you tackle challenges that your body isn't used to doing.  And that's when the trouble begins...

You might take a fall, sprain or strain a joint or muscle and end up in pain.  Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to address the pain of injuries and overuse for both adults and children.

In the summer months, when school's out, children spend more time outdoors, running and playing, and unfortunately, often falling.  The jarring action of a fall can cause their young spine to go out of alignment, creating what chiropractors refer to as a subluxation.  Subluxations interfere with normal nerve function, and in a young child, could interfere with normal growth and development of the spine.

It's important to have a chiropractic examination after a fall or injury, especially if back or neck pain results.  If left untreated, the subluxation can develop into a longer term problem, especially in developing children.

Chiropractors are among the few types of doctors whose methods are completely safe and natural.  We don't use prescription drugs or surgery.  Chiropractic adjustments are performed manually.  They are painless, and covered by most health insurance companies.

Chiropractic adjustments help to restore normal functioning to the entire nervous system, which in turn, can improve a wide variety of conditions.  In addition to neck and back pain, chiropractic adjustments have helped many people with headaches, TMJ, sinus problems, issues with joints in the arms and legs and more.  At Wantagh Woods Chiropractic and Wellness, we see patients of all ages, with a variety of conditions for which we can provide relief.

Many professional athletes receive regular chiropractic care to speed healing of injuries, prevent new ones from occurring, improve their overall health and get a competitive edge.  Let us help you and your family to get and stay in the game with safe, natural chiropractic care.  To learn more about how we can help you and your family get and stay healthier, visit our website at www.wantaghwoodschiropractic.com or call us at 516-783-0088 for an appointment.

Texting is Dangerous Even When You're Not Driving

Everyone knows how dangerous it can be to use your smart phone for text messaging while driving.  Even a momentary distraction that takes your eyes off the road can have disastrous effects.  But it seems that not everyone knows how dangerous texting can be even when you're not driving.n Aside from the obvious dangers of being distracted while crossing a street or parking lot or going up or down stairs, the posture that people typical use for texting stresses the body in many ways, which if done frequently enough, over a long enough period of time can lead to permanent problems.

The picture above exaggerates, of course where the person's head falls off, but the other figures are accurate.  An adult human head weighs about 10 pounds, which when balanced properly in a good postural position (the ear should be directly above the tip of the shoulder) feels weightless.  As the head leans forward, as it does when focusing on a phone screen the pressure on the neck increases dramatically.  The graphic shows it in degrees.  Another way of expressing it is that for every inch the ear is ahead of the tip of the shoulder, add ten pounds. All of this additional stress strains the muscles, vertebrae and discs of the neck, causing pain, stiffness, and ultimately, permanent structural changes that can be quite serious.

A typical 18-24 year old sends or receives roughly 50 texts a day.  That's a lot of time spent looking down.  This is the first generation that has had such widespread use of a device which keeps them sedentary and focused on something that promotes an unhealthy posture.  If you must use your smartphone frequently, make an effort to hold the phone higher, so you won't have to bend your head as far forward to use it.  This simple strategy will help you to reduce the amount of stress on your neck.

Unfortunately, the potential risks of frequent cell phone use for texting and browsing don't end there.  Typically, while focusing on a phone or other hand-held device, the shoulders are slumped and the back is rounded - a posture which crowds the lungs.  Lungs may be further compromised by the quick shallow breaths we tend to take when we're concentrating on something.  Take the time to straighten your spine, roll your shoulders back and take deep breaths to help minimize the impact of the texting posture on your lungs.

Think about what texting can do to your hands.  Many people spend a large part of their day clutching their smartphone in their hands, which can lead to stiffness and even speed the development of arthritis.  Put the phone down when not in use, and take time to stretch your hands and fingers wide open periodically throughout the day to give them a break.

Parents - teach your teens and young adults how to take care of their bodies while they are still young and healthy.  And set a good example with your own texting habits.

Get some exercise on  a regular basis, even if you don't have much time, to counterbalance the time you spend texting, watching videos and surfing the web.  Stretch, jump, walk, run or do yoga.  It will help you to stay limber.  Regular chiropractic adjustments can also prevent the stresses of texting from becoming permanent structural problems.  At Wantagh Woods Chiropractic and Wellness, we treat the entire person in order to promote good health.  Contact us to make an appointment for a free consultation.

Acetaminophen Risks Are Greater Than We Think

As our population ages, more and more people turn to over the counter medications for relief from osteaoarthritis and muscular pain.  The first recommended drug for the purpose is generally acetaminophen, best known as the brand name Tylenol.  Tylenol is commonly believed to be gentler on the stomach than any of the NSAID (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs) category of drugs, which includes aspirin, ibuprofen and others, making it more likely to be recommended for long-term use, but the drug may be neither as effective nor as harmless as people are led to believe.

A group of doctors in the United Kingdom did a review of previously published studies on the safety of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, also known as paracetamol in Britain.  Their findings were disturbing because they showed that taken together, the studies indicate that people who take the maximum recommended daily dosage of acetominophen are at increased risk for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems.

The findings were clearly dose related.  Non-users had the lowest rate of adverse effects, with low-dose users having a slightly elevated risk, and users who follow the instructions on the bottle for maximum dosage had significantly more adverse effects.

One of the difficulties in studying over the counter medications is that their use is under-reported.  People feel so safe taking them that when asked about medications, they may not even mention them.  An additional difficulty in measuring the amount of acetaminophen that people have taken is that it is often included in multi-symptom cold formulas, so people are taking it without even being aware of it.

If someone is sick and they are taking Tylenol for aches and pains or fever at the same time as a multi symptom cold relief formula, they may be exceeding the recommended dose of acetaminophen and putting themselves at risk for serious side effects.  The best way to avoid this is to avoid multi symptom formulas and take only what is needed.

Despite the popular perception that Tylenol is safe and gentle, it is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States.  Anyone who has any kind of liver problems would be best advised to avoid acetaminophen altogether.  The use of this drug accounts for over 100,000 calls to poison control centers, around 60,000 visits to emergency rooms and hundreds of deaths per year in the United States alone.

Perhaps the most frightening part is that the perception of acetaminophen as safe and effective results in its use for conditions for which it isn't even effective, like the pain of osteoarthritis.  Joint pain tends to be the result of inflammation, and acetaminophen has no anti-inflammatory action, making it not much better than a placebo for controlling this kind of pain.

Based on this information, you might think that using one of the NSAID's would be the solution.  They would be more effective at reducing inflammation, but they too come with their own risks and side effects, so they are not a great long term solution.

For many people, adequate pain relief can be attained with natural measures that are much less likely to cause dangerous and unpleasant side effects.  Manual manipulation of the spine or joint, which can be performed by a chiropractor or physical therapist, followed by strengthening exercises and training in the proper way to move to minimize pain has been shown to give superior relief without unwanted side effects.

Weight loss and increased activity, while it requires a commitment and willpower from the patient invariably reduces pain in the knees, ankles, feet, hips and back.  It will take time and effort, but it will pay off in increased mobility with reduced pain.

There are also several natural substances that have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, such as the spices tumeric and ginger as well as green tea.  They can be used as part of your regular diet or taken as supplements, but one of the best ways I've seen to harness the natural healing power of food is by drinking the anti-inflammatory tea I recommend to my patients.

In my practice, I adjust limbs as well as spines, and have helped many patients recover from injuries to elbows, wrists, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles, in addition to performing spinal manipulation.  I help my patients achieve optimal health by advising them on exercise, nutrition and other lifestyle aspects.

If you would like to learn more about safe, natural pain relief through chiropractic and nutrition, or if you would like the recipe for anti-inflmmatory tea, visit our website at www.wantaghwoodschiropractic.com or call us at 516-783-0088 to make an appointment.

Diet Can Improve Brain Function

Whether you are a new parent, wondering if there is anything you can do to stack the odds in favor of healthy brain development in your child, or a middle aged person experiencing increasing forgetfulness and brain fog, you might want to know what studies have shown about how you can influence the condition and functioning of the brain with diet.  So many studies have been done, testing so many variables, that the results can be confusing and overwhelming, but the following information seemed to be the most helpful, so I'm presenting it to you.

We've Got Fat Heads
The brain is made up of roughly 2/3 fats, so it makes sense to study the impact of fat consumption on the brain.  The majority of findings in this area indicated that eating fats is good for the brain, but not just any fats.  Trans fats are to be avoided at all costs, and saturated fats from meats and dairy need to be approached with caution.  Saturated fats from grass-fed or free range animals are much safer than from those grown on conventional feed.  Healthy fats, like those found in almonds, avocados, olives and most nuts and seeds are not only safe, but beneficial to the brain.  Fish oil was found to be the most critical to brain health, so unless you're allergic, feel free to consume a variety of fish on a frequent basis, or take a good quality fish oil supplement.  A word of caution - while fats can be healthy, they do contain almost twice as many calories as proteins and carbohydrates, so if you're watching your weight, choose the healthy fats only, and don't overdo it.

There's Something About Carbs...
Some of the research has centered on whether a diet high in carbohydrates is good for the brain.  Those studies have shown that carbohydrates, specifically grains, with wheat being among the worst, lead to increased inflammation, free radical production and oxidative risk, thereby increasing the likelihood of dementia.  This might lead one to adopt a very low carb diet, but other studies have shown that vegetarians, who traditionally consume more carbohydrates tend to have higher levels of brain health.  How can they both be true?  This is where looking at the variables being controlled for and whether they are looking for disease or health comes in.  In short, moderation seems to be the secret ingredient here.  Diets don't have to be all fat or all carbs.  A major factor to look out for is genetically modified grains (GMO), which may be causing the current spike in negative reactions to these foods.

Junk Food and Depression
A study completed in 2012 showed that people who regularly consumed fast food were 40% more likely to suffer from depression.  That study came on the heels of another one in 2011 that showed that the more trans fats people eat, the more likely they are to suffer from depression.  Food is not only fuel.  It is the building blocks for replacing cells throughout our bodies, including our brains.

The Pediatric Brain
You may have heard that breast feeding infants is best for brain development.  One of the reasons may be the presence of DHA in breast milk.  It's the same fatty acid in fish oil, which is critical to brain development and health.

Beyond infancy, studies have shown that children who frequently consume junk foods (sugar, processed sweets, soda, fast food) tend to have higher incidence of worrying, sadness, crying, anxiety, aggression, tantrums and hyperactivity as well as lower IQ's.

Your Safest Course of Action
The Mediterranean diet seems to be the healthiest option for most people.  Here are the guidelines, but remember that fats have more calories and moderation is key.  Opt for organic and/or local fruits, vegetables and grains, organic/grass-fed or free range when it comes to meat, eggs and dairy and wild caught when it comes to fish, whenever possible.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Beans and pulses are healthy, fiber-filled carbohydrate rich foods with some protein content.
• Limit your grains and choose organic/non GMO varieties.
• Reduce your consumption of meats and choose higher quality.
• Enjoy fish, nuts and free range eggs, which are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats.
• Seeds, avocados and olive oil are also good sources for healthy fats.
• Avoid junk foods and trans fats.
• Keep your portion sizes reasonable.
• Enjoy!

If you'd like to learn more about this, or other health related topics, visit us at www.wantaghwoodschiropractic.com, or come on in.