Get Out of Bed and Stay ACTIVE

DTP, Tetanus Vaccinations Cause Allergy Symptoms?

Weight Training: Is One Set Enough?

Vitamin C Lowers Women's Risk of Gallbladder Disease

NSAIDs May Contribute to Congestive Heart Failure

Olive Oil Helps Prevent Colon Cancer?

Never Too Late to Start Exercising

Arthritis Sufferers: Get the Facts on Chondroitin Sulfate

When Work Causes Back Pain

Avoid Alcohol During Pregnancy

Lots of Antibiotics, Little Success 

On the Safety of the Chiropractic Adjustment

Too Much Added Sugar

Body Fat and Breast Cancer

Losing Weight with Green Tea

Zhang S, Hunter D, Hankinson S, et al. A prospective study of folate intake and the risk of breast cancer. Journal of the American Medical Association, May 5, 1999: Vol. 281, No. 17, pp.1632-1641.

A Chiropractic Approach to Shoulder Tendonitis Nature Instead of Drugs

If the tendon connecting the shoulder muscles to the bone becomes
inflamed or irritated, you're probably suffering from tendinitis.
Calcium deposited into the tendon may increase the pain and
restrict shoulder movement and flexibility.

The potential side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are
well-documented, making this study on a nondrug alternative --
ultrasound -- that much more interesting. Fifty-four patients (61
total shoulders) received either ultrasound therapy or a "sham"
treatment (in which the ultrasound machine was not turned on) for
six weeks.

After the treatment period, calcium deposits had disappeared in 
six shoulders and decreased by at least 50% in nine shoulders. The
sham group showed no resolution of calcium deposits, and 50%
improvement in only three shoulders. These differences were even
greater at a follow-up visit nine months later. 

If you're experiencing shoulder pain or tenderness, schedule a
consultation and a thorough examination with your chiropractor. If
tendonitis is the culprit, ultrasound or chiropractic adjustments may be the solution.

Ebenbichler G, Erdogmus CB, Resch KL, et al. Ultrasound therapy for calcific tendonitis of the shoulder. The New England Journal of Medicine, May 20, 1999: Vol. 340, No. 20, pp1533-1538.

Add Walnuts to List of Foods that Fight Cholesterol

Unsaturated fatty acids, especially those found in many oils and nuts, are regarded as keys to preventing cardiovascular disease and promoting healthy cholesterol levels. Walnuts are of special interest because they are primarily polyunsaturated (72%) and monounsaturated (18%) fatty acids.

A recent study of 793 inhabitants of a French farming community examined the potential effect of walnut consumption on blood cholesterol levels. Results showed that people who ate walnuts more than twice a week and used walnut oil every day (at least six months out of the year) had higher levels of the "good" cholesterol than non-consumers. People who consumed at least some walnuts/walnut oil also showed increased levels of the "good" cholesterol compared with non-consumers. 

So what is "good" cholesterol? Technically, it's known as HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol -- but don't let the fancy name confuse you. Research shows that it really is just plain "good" because it actually carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream (As opposed to LDL -- low-density lipoprotein -- cholesterol, which is considered the "bad" cholesterol). So add walnuts to your list of foods that help keep your "good" cholesterol levels high. And ask your doctor for more information on cholesterol and the many food sources high in unsaturated fatty acids. 

Lavedrine F, Zmirou D, Ravel A, et al. Blood cholesterol and walnut consumption: a cross-sectional survey in France. Preventive Medicine, 1999: Vol. 28, pp333-339.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

As we get older, we become more susceptible to health problems that can dramatically affect our lifestyle and enjoyment of daily activities. When these conditions lead to disability or limitations in function, our ability to work may also suffer.

In 1992 and again in 1994, more than 8,000 people (aged 51-61) were interviewed as part of the Health and Retirement Survey. The results of the survey were used to provide estimates of the impact of musculoskeletal conditions in the United States (estimated percentage of people aged 51-61 reporting at least one musculoskeletal condition): 

	1992: 62.4%
	1994: 70.5%

Weight Training: More or Less?

If those two-hour-a-day, 15-sets-per-bodypart workouts are driving you to the brink of madness, listen up: You might be working a lot harder than you have to. A paper presented in the journal Sports Medicine reviewed a number of studies on the effectiveness of single vs. multiple training sets for increasing muscle strength and size. 

The researchers looked at studies that evaluated the value of performing one set vs. two sets, one set vs. three sets, and one set vs. three or more sets (i.e., performing one set of biceps curls vs. performing two, three, or more sets). 

Now here's the big news: After a thorough review of the material, the researchers concluded that "the benefits of resistance training may involve undertaking the minimal amount of exercise needed to achieve the desired response"

Think about your current exercise regimen -- is the amount of effort you're putting in worth the results you're getting? If you're slaving away at the gym but don't seem to be making any improvements, try slimming down your program for a while, and see what happens. Less might actually be more.

Carpinelli RN, Otto RM. Strength training: single vs. multiple sets. Sports Medicine, August 1998: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp73-84.

Six Cups a Day May Keep Bladder Cancer Away

Having to make frequent trips to the bathroom, even if you haven't been drinking that much, can be an early sign of bladder cancer -- the fourth most common cancer among men. 

If you haven't been drinking a lot of fluids, you may want to start. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, adequate fluid intake may help prevent bladder cancer. In this study, nearly 50,000 men were evaluated over a 10-year period. Results showed that men who drank at least six cups per day (of almost any fluid -- water, juices, tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc.) had a 51% lower risk of bladder cancer compared to men who drank only 1 cup per day.

Making sure you get enough fluids isn't as difficult as it sounds, no matter how active or hectic your life gets. Simply fill a plastic container or bottle (an average water bottle holds 64 ounces, or 8 cups) every morning and bring it with you wherever you go. 

Michaud D, Speigelman D, Clinton S, et al. Fluid intake and the risk of bladder cancer in men. The New England Journal of Medicine, May 6, 1999: Vol. 340, No. 18, pp1390-1397.

Teach Your Children the Value of Exercise

Evidence suggests that behaviors established at a young age persist in adulthood. If you're a parent, you probably believe the evidence -- that's why you don't want your children "picking up bad habits" from other children, or hanging out with "the wrong crowd." 

But this might not be quite accurate, at least not when we consider a potential "good" behavior -- physical activity. According to a recent study, simply increasing the amount of exercise as a child doesn't necessarily mean that your children will exercise as adults. The study compared two adult groups: one that received five hours of physical education weekly for six years during primary school, and a group that received only the standard physical activity requirements (about 40 minutes per week).

Questionnaires completed by the groups showed that childhood physical activity did not have a significant effect on attitudes toward, frequency of, or intentions to exercise as adults. The authors believe that it may be consistent exposure to the process of exercise and to an overall health-oriented program in childhood may be a more important contributor to positive exercise/fitness patterns in adulthood.

Don't just encourage (or pressure) your children to participate in sports. Teach your children the value of staying healthy and active, and schedule regular visits for them with your family chiropractor. The lessons they learn could last a lifetime.

Trudeau F, Laurencelle L, Tremblay J, et al. Daily primary school physical education: effects on physical activity during adult life. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1999: Vol. 31, No. 1, pp111-117. 

Too Many Children Still Drinking (and Driving)

The U.S. Surgeon General's Office reports that in the last 75 years, life expectancy has increased for every age group but one: young adults (ages 15-24). Even more troubling is the observation that nearly half of the deaths in this age group can be attributed to alcohol and drug-impaired driving.

To better understand the problem of teenage drinking and driving, an article in the American Journal of Public Health presented data from 10 years of national surveys of American high-school seniors.  Three main points emerged from the data, along with a conclusion:

	Rates of adolescent drinking and driving (and riding with a driver who had been drinking) actually declined from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s.
	However, these trends did not continue after 1995, and the rates may have increased again from 1995-1997.
	A substantial percentage of students have exposed themselves to alcohol-impaired driving, even at the lowest points.

Hitting Back Pain from All Angles

Doctors of chiropractic spend years in chiropractic college learning to manipulate the spine, but that's certainly not all they learn. Chiropractors are effective at relieving back pain because they know that long-term solutions come from taking a well-rounded approach to dealing with the problem.

A study involving 147 patients (101 of whom were classified as "disabled" from car accidents or work-related back injuries) provides evidence of the effectiveness of this approach to managing back pain. Patients participated in a four-phase rehabilitation program consisting of:

1) chiropractic treatments, including spinal adjustments, ultrasound therapy, and TENS (electrical stimulation of the muscles), along with cardiovascular exercises;

2) isometric strength training;

3) resistance weight training; and

4) education on back pain, including strategies for coping with pain, relaxation techniques, etc. 

After nine weeks of rehabilitation, patients reported decreases in pain and disability compared with pre-rehabilitation measurements. Strength, flexibility and range of motion were also higher, and most significantly, 91 of the 101 disabled patients were able to return to work.

If back pain's got you down, get up and take a trip to your doctor of chiropractic. You'll get a comprehensive, caring approach that's sure to help you get back on your feet.

Guerriero RC, Rawani M, Gray E, et al. A retrospective study of the
effectiveness of physical rehabilitation of low back pain patients in a multidisciplinary setting. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, June 1999: Vol. 43, No. 2, pp89-103. 

Relieving Back Pain During Pregnancy

Ah, the indescribable joys of pregnancy. The anticipation of new life, the intimate, developing bond between mother and child ... and the back pain. More than 50% of women experience back pain during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, and frequently the pain can be excruciating and debilitating.

A Swedish study involving 258 pregnant women investigated whether water gymnastics could reduce the intensity of back pain and the number of days taken for sick leave. Women were divided equally into two groups: an exercise group that participated in water gymnastics (one hour of relaxation exercises, performed in a swimming pool and accompanied by music) during the second half of their pregnancy; and a control group that did not participate in water gymnastics.

Although back pain intensity increased during the course of pregnancy for both groups, the exercise group reported less pain compared with the control group. The total number of reported days on sick leave was also lower in the exercise group (982 days taken) compared with controls (1,484 days taken).

Many of the joys (and frustrations) of parenthood will last much longer than nine months, so prepare yourself. But back pain's one frustration that doesn't have to last. If you're expecting a child and are experiencing back pain, talk to your doctor of chiropractic about making your pregnancy as pain free as possible. 

Kihlstrand M, Stenman B, Nilsson S, et al. Water gymnastics reduced
the intensity of back/low back pain in pregnant women. Acta Obstetrics Et Gynecologica Scandinavia, March 1999: Vol. 78, No. 3, pp180-85.

Over-Prescribing Antibiotics for Viral Infections?

When you or one of your children catch a cold, chances are good that a virus is to blame. In fact, evidence also suggests that 60-75% of colds, bronchitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. 

Unfortunately, chances are also good that your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic, despite substantial evidence that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections. Doctors know the statistics, but for some reason, they don't always share the information with you.

A study published in the research journal Pediatrics examined pediatrician prescribing behaviors as they related to parental expectations. Ten physicians and more than 300 parents attending sick visits for their children were surveyed. Results showed that when physicians thought a parent wanted an antibiotic for viral complaints, they prescribed one 62% of the time, compared with only 7% of the time when they did not think the parent wanted antibiotics. 

The bottom line? Many medical doctors prescribed unnecessary medication -- antibiotics they knew would be ineffective against viral infections -- because they thought that's what parents expected.

The researchers suggest that steps need to be taken to change physician perceptions regarding parental expectations. After all, parents may or may not expect antibiotics, but what they probably expect (and want) most of all is a doctor who provides quality, accurate and honest health care each and every visit.

Mangione-Smith R, McGlynn E, Elliott M, et al. The relationship between parental expectations and pediatrician antimicrobial prescribing behavior. Pediatrics, April 1999: Vol. 103, No. 4, pp711-718.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin E?

We hear about vitamin C, vitamin A, the B vitamins, calcium and iron. But what's so great about vitamin E? Well, most of us know that it's good for the skin. After all, check out all those skin care products in your local supermarket -- most (if not all) contain some form of vitamin E. 

What too many people apparently don't know is that vitamin E also plays an important role in preventing and controlling cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. According to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, an estimated 27% of the U.S. population doesn't get enough daily vitamin E. Men have a higher concentration than women, and African Americans have the lowest concentration of any ethnic or racial group.

If you're not getting enough vitamin E in your diet, you're an inviting target for cancer, heart disease, and a number of other dangerous conditions, including infertility, nerve destruction and anemia. So don't ignore vitamin E -- especially when it's so easy to find. Plant and seed oils, nuts, whole grains, milk, soybeans and sweet potatoes are all good sources of vitamin E. Ask your chiropractor for more information.

Ford E, Sowell A. Serum alpha-tocopherol status in the United States population: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. American Journal of Epidemiology, August 1999: Vol. 150, No. 3, pp290-300.