The year was 1906. The day was November 17th. The place was Hamamatsu, Japan. On that day, a baby was born that would have a major impact on the vast majority of people in the United States, Japan, and countless countries around the world.
That was the day Soichiro Honda was born. Yes, the baby born on that day would start and build the Honda Motor Company into the giant it is today.
But, it was not always smooth sailing. In fact, little Soichiro Honda got off to a pretty rough start, especially in school…
Soichiro’s father was a blacksmith and ran a bicycle repair business on the side. He would buy broken down bicycles for a cheap price, fix them, and sell them for a small profit. It is reported that Soichiro was helping his father, “straight from the cradle.” Though Soichiro was intelligent, he wanted nothing to do with formal education… and his grades reflected it.
At his school, all students were given grade reports that their parents were to stamp with their family seal. Because he did not want his parents to see his grades, Soichiro re-created their family seal stamp out of an old tire. He stamped his report card and brought it back to school.
It worked, but Soichiro did not stop there. He started helping out his friends and making family seal stamps for them as well. That is, until Soichiro make a critical error. His family name was symmetrical so it did not need to be made in reverse on the stamp. But, his friends’ family names were not symmetrical. Soichiro did not recognize and his friend’s new seals stamped backwards! The teacher noticed the mistake and Soichiro found himself in very hot water.
Soichiro’s father was very upset. He was so upset that he made Soichiro kneel in the corner for an entire day. But this story has a little twist…
You see, Soichiro’s father was not upset because Soichiro forged the family stamps. He was upset because he did not pick up on the mirror imaging and made the stamps incorrectly. That’s why he punished him.
This lesson and others like it stuck with Soichiro, and they served him well when he met with failure after failure a little later in life when he had a dream to create a piston ring engine. He devoted his entire life to accomplishing this goal. He invested all of his money (he even brought his wife’s jewelry to the pawn shop) and sunk it into his dream.
He went back to school only to drop out because he refused to take the examinations. He founded his own company (Tokai Seiki) and was doing business with Toyota until World War II put a stop to it. Once again, he did not quit. In 1946, he started “Honda Technology Research Institute” and started making mopeds. Within two years, Honda Technology Research Institute became Honda Motor Company.
In the 1960s, Soichiro fulfilled a dream and started producing cars. I think we all know where this story ends. Clearly, the take home message is that success is rarely, if ever, a straight line. There are always twists and turns. Disappointment and adaptation. More failure than success. But thank goodness you can fail 99% of the time and still be successful in the end. You just have to be willing to fail.
“Success is 99% Failure.” This was one of his mottos. Find out who said this and how poor performance in school turned him into one of the biggest success stories in the world.
4 JunNEW STUDY: E-Cigarettes May Lead to Conventional Smoking and Nicotine Addiction in Teenagers Often touted as a way to quit smoking… the opposite may also be true…
2 JunIf you do not want your children to start smoking, the information you are about to read will be extremely important to you. A new study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that e-cigarettes may actually increase the chance that teenagers start smoking conventional cigarettes, possibly leading to nicotine addiction.
This study completely contradicts the claims (and marketing promotion) that e-cigarettes are a good way to quit.
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that adolescents who used e-cigarette devices were more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit smoking. The study of nearly 40,000 youth around the country also found that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, from 3.1 percent to 6.5 percent.
Dr. Lauren Dutra of the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education states, “E-cigarettes are likely to be gateway devices for nicotine addiction among youth, opening up a whole new market for tobacco.”
The study found that not only were e-cigarettes associated with a greater probability of progressing from just trying cigarettes to becoming a regular smoker, teens who smoked both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes smoked more conventional cigarettes per day than non-e-cigarette users.
A previous study of 75,000 South Korean adolescents published a year ago found similar results.
This comes on a surge in popularity of e-cigarettes, most likely due to heavy marketing that makes them look cool. This is reminiscent of old tobacco cigarette ads from decades ago that used celebrities, spokespeople, and even doctors to market their addictive and deadly product.
“It looks to me like the wild west marketing of e-cigarettes is not only encouraging youth to smoke them, but also it is promoting regular cigarette smoking among youth,” says senior author Dr. Stanton A. Glantz, UCSF Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education.
What Are E-Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes or ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems), are devices whose function is to vaporize and deliver a chemical mixture typically composed of nicotine, propylene glycol, and other chemicals (although some products claim to contain no nicotine) to the user’s lungs. A number of ENDS are offered in flavors that can be particularly attractive to adolescents. Electronic cigarettes are the most common type of ENDS.
The manufacturers report that the cartridges typically contain between 6 and 24 mg of nicotine, but they can sometimes contain more than 100 mg.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “The dose of delivered nicotine is also unknown. It is suspected that the delivered dose varies notably by product, which contains nicotine in various quantities and concentrations.
“Until such time when ENDS are deemed safe and effective and of acceptable quality by a competent national regulatory body, consumers should be strongly advised not to use any of these products, including electronic cigarettes.”
Here’s Something Important if You
Want to Help Someone Quit Smoking!
A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that smokers who viewed ads featuring reasons to quit were substantially more likely to quit smoking after the four-week study period. However, ads with messages about how to quit smoking had no effect on an individual’s smoking behavior.
According to an author of the study, “Why-to-quit smoking messages are more powerful because those ads typically show graphic portrayals of the health consequences of smoking or feature personal testimonies to evoke emotion. Whereas, how-to-quit messages are designed to increase an individual’s belief that he or she can quit.”
Advertising Works
After four weeks, smokers who viewed ads with messages featuring reasons to quit smoking were 6 to 10 times more likely to have quit smoking compared with smokers who viewed no ads. Smokers who watched the how-to-quit smoking ads did not change their habits at all.
The success of the “why” ads is believed to be because those commercials were much more emotional in nature. They showed visible and graphic evidence of the devastating effects smoking can have on a person.
Who Else Wants to Look
20 Years Older than They Are?
Some expert marketers have said for a long time the way to get people to stop smoking is to show the cosmetic changes that result from the activity. For example, show beautiful people’s faces becoming ugly from smoking.
They say it’s because most people are much more prone to act for cosmetic reasons than they are for health reasons. Sadly, these top marketers are probably correct.
There is plenty of proof that smoking tobacco prematurely ages a smoker’s face. It causes deep lines and wrinkles that can make a person look DECADES older than they really are. The difference in aging and loss of youth and beauty is drastic.
Ironically, most smokers start smoking to “be cool” and fit in. However, smoking actually steals a person’s good looks like a thief in the night.
It seems quite obvious that good advertising cannot only influence people to start smoking… it can influence them to stop. Boring lectures about the health consequences will not change behavior, especially in teenagers. Good, emotional marketing will.
But, it’s an uphill battle. People will do almost anything to be “cool” and some marketers will do anything to sell a product.
Let’s hope the e-cigarette craze does not hook a new generation on conventional cigarettes.
Chiropractic and Cholesterol?
29 MayChiropractic adjustments are traditionally aimed at restoring function and reducing pain in various locations of the body, particularly spine-related complaints. The focus is on the neuro- (nerves), musculo- (muscles), -skeletal (bones and joints) system and their related ailments like neck, mid-back, low back, and pelvic area pain. The problem is that every day patients come to us with MANY health problems that go beyond spinal pain; therefore, we have to treat the WHOLE PERSON. Because chiropractic care is about restoring overall general health and well-being, and since the body cannot be segregated into only one system (like only the neuromusculoskeletal), the rest of the body including the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, nervous, and the rest of the “systems” sometimes have to be addressed in order to improve the patient’s complaint(s). This month, let’s take a look at the current approaches utilized to control cholesterol and how chiropractic fits into the picture…
As you’ve probably heard, the prescription rate of statin medications (drugs that lower cholesterol such as Lipitor) has gone gangbusters in our society in the last decade. Ironically, one of the most common and debilitating side effects of the statin group of medications is generalized, sometimes disabling, muscle pain caused by something called “rhabdomyolysis.” Since chiropractors treat MANY patients with muscle-related pain, it’s quite common for these people to visit chiropractic offices for help managing their general muscular pain, not considering the cause of their pain may be from the side-effects of their medication! Discontinuing the statin medication may be the only way to stop this very painful and fairly common side-effect. That is, if it isn’t too late and the muscle pain has not become permanent!
In November 2013, The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released NEW cholesterol drug guidelines. These guidelines use a special calculator that takes into account these lifestyle factors: 1) Weight of the patient; 2) The patient’s age; 3) Cholesterol / LDL numbers; 4) Blood pressure; 5) smoking habits; and 6) Use of blood pressure medications. The new focus is on exercise, losing weight, eating the right foods, and being aware of the risks. Statins are recommended for people already diagnosed with heart disease, those with extremely high LDL’s (bad cholesterol), middle-aged type 2 diabetics, and those between 40-70 whose estimated 10-year risk is calculated at 7.5% or higher. Some experts criticize that the calculator overestimates how many people need statins and caution is recommended to NOT depend solely on this approach. The ultimate goal is to reduce bad cholesterol by 50% for those with high risk and 30-50% for those with moderate risk, of which studies report that this will reduce the chance of having a heart attack. The shift to include lifestyle changes and to NOT only focus on one number (cholesterol level) is a step in the right direction, especially for those who can’t tolerate statins due to the sometimes significant muscle pain side effects.
In respect to whole person care, chiropractors manage aspects that negatively affect health, and that includes cholesterol management. Dietary approaches include, not only guidance in eating the right foods, but also in recommending specific nutrients that can lower cholesterol. For example, studies show eating fewer processed food reduces “trans-fats,” (which increase LDL’s and reduces the “good” HDL cholesterol), and saturated fat. This is reportedly MORE helpful than eating less cholesterol-rich foods! Nutrients like Red Rice Yeast can help reduce cholesterol without the side-effect risks. Weight loss, blood pressue control, and smoking cessation are other ways we can help you win this war! We want you to live longer with a higher quality of life!
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care, we would be honored to render our services.
Whiplash Anatomy.
28 MayWhiplash is an injury commonly associated with motor vehicle collisions (MVC) caused by a rapid forward and backward “whipping” of the neck. What varies between each case is the degree of injury and what anatomical parts of the neck are actually injured. Let’s take a look at the spine so we can better understand where the pain actually comes from…
The cervical spine is made up of seven moving vertebrae. The top vertebra (C1) is called the atlas and is shaped like a ring. This ring shape allows the head to rotate left and right so we can check traffic, carrying on conversation with someone sitting off to the side, and so on. It pivots around a peg called the “dens” of C2, or the axis, and the function of these first two vertebrae is very important. This is because the upper most three nerves that exit through this part of the cervical spine innervate the head and dysfunction here may be the cause of some headaches. Chiropractic adjustments concentrate a great deal on restoring function to this area. The C4-6 vertebrae make up the most mobile region of the spine in the forward and backwards directions. Generally, the greater the mobility, the lesser the stability, and because of this, injury to this area is quite common. We often see arthritis in this region first and we focus on keeping the areas that are less mobile (areas above and below C4-6) as mobile as possible. The upper back/lower neck area includes the rib / vertebrae joints, which are also commonly involved in whiplash injuries. Chiropractic adjustments applied to this region also help to restore function and mobility. The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae and includes the rib cage as well as the shoulder blades (scapulae). This area is sometimes neglected during treatment as the main focus is often placed on the more painful areas of injury like the neck. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae and is also frequently overlooked as an injured area due to the distance away from the neck. However, seat belts frequently injure the breast, chest, mid-back, and/or low back regions.
There are several tissues that could be injured. The ligaments — the tough, non-elastic tissue that holds bone to bone — function to maintain stability between the vertebrae. The articular capsule is also made of ligaments and is a frequently injured area, which generates pain with movement of the head and neck. Muscles and the tendon attachments are elastic and function to move the structures. Stability is facilitated by good muscle tone and strength and is a strong focus of treatment. Injury to these structures are called, “…soft tissue injuries,” and make up the majority of whiplash associated disorders (WAD II category).
The intervertebral disks are made up of a fibroelastic cartilage on the outside and a more liquid-like center that functions as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Injury to the disk includes tears, cracks, and/or fissures where the liquid center part can migrate through and can rupture. Injury to the nervous tissues includes the free nerve endings when the articular capsule is “sprained.” Nerve root injuries are most commonly “pinched” or compressed by a “ruptured disk” and send pain, numbness, and/or muscle weakness to specific areas of the arm and/or hand. These injuries are classified as WAD III injuries and usually carry a worse prognosis than WAD II injuries.
Determining which tissues are injured, managing the acute, subacute, and chronic stages of healing and facilitating self-management strategies are the primary goals of chiropractic treatment of the whiplash injured patient.
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.
Fibromyalgia in Men?
27 MayFibromyalgia (FM) can’t occur in men because it’s a woman’s disease, right? In fact, if a man claims to have FM, then he is simply lying (probably just trying to get out of working and/or on disability), right? Unfortunately, that’s what MANY people (and even some doctors) believe!
Though it is true that FM is primarily a woman’s disease, actually nine times more likely, it does INDEED affect men. FM affects 2-4% of the population (an estimated 5 million adults) in the United States (US) with as few as 10% of victims being men. But, that’s still 500,000 men in the US alone, and that doesn’t include an estimated 20% that go undiagnosed (mostly because “men are men”)! The onset, like that for women, can occur, “….out of the blue.” Case studies show a man (or woman), can be highly engaged in an active lifestyle that may include golfing, bowling, or working on a hobby car, when suddenly and for no apparent reason, intense chronic pain can arise and, “…take over the life” of this previously very healthy, vibrant, active man.
We’ve all learned that FM is diagnosed primarily by excluding other disorders after running many tests including x-rays, various scans, lab tests, and more. When all the tests come back negative, the diagnosis of FM is even then only sometimes entertained. The word, “SOMETIMES” should be strongly emphasized as MANY doctors, as well as the general public, STILL have a hard time wrapping their heads around the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. This happens even more when a male patient presents with the FM cluster of symptoms. A male patient may attend a FM support group and be the only man in the room. The National Fibromyalgia Association has only one male board member who reportedly was not initially welcomed! This particular male reported that a neurologist refused to see him, as he did not support the diagnosis and openingly accused him of trying to get disability payments. He stated that it was particularly challenging to find professional care as well as community support. Even his best friend, a doctor, told him that men couldn’t get FM!
The cause of FM remains elusive. Why do so few men compared to women suffer from FM? Though certain types of viral infections, trauma after car accidents, and emotional stress have all been reported to trigger FM, it can also strike without warning. According to Dr. Muhammad B. Yunus, MD (professor of medicine at U. of Illinois, College of Medicine), FM is characterized by an imbalance of brain chemicals described as, “…a neurochemical disease.” He found that FM patients have higher than average levels of substance P (a neurotransmitter that signals pain), and lower levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that inhibits pain). Genetics and hormones (particularly estrogen, which is higher in women) also play a role both with causing the disease and with the gender discrepancy found in FM. Estrogen has also been found to reduce pain thresholds, a problem associated with FM, thus making women more susceptible to the disease. Like in women, men can have similar complications including (but not limited to) chronic fatigue, difficulty sleeping, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, restless leg syndrome, and memory and concentration problems. But, it has been reported that men with FM usually have less wide-spread or, “…hurt all over” pain and may not suffer from as much fatigue, but in some cases, can still be more disabled from FM than women. Depression and suicidal thoughts are reportedly common in men with FM. Prompt diagnosis and treatment continues to be the recommended course in order to obtain ideal management results!
As chiropractors we can offer management, treatment, exercise training, dietary consultation, and coordinate care.
If you, a friend or family member requires care for Fibromyalgia, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!
Chiropractic & Exercise vs. OTC Medication for Neck Pain?
26 May“Boy, my neck is killing me! Honey, where is the ibuprofen?” Isn’t this the FIRST thing people think of when they have an ache or pain? The general public does NOT usually think, “….boy, do I need to see my chiropractor – my neck is killing me!” So, the question of the month is, which one is better, chiropractic or over-the-counter (OTC) medication? Let’s take a look.
Though this question has been discussed for years (just search: “chiropractic vs. NSAIDs”), a recent study looked specifically at this question, which will be the main focus of this Health Update. The study points out that it has been estimated that 75% of Americans will experience neck pain at some point in their life. For years, spinal manipulation has been criticized as being ineffective or providing limited benefits. Meanwhile, ads on TV, in magazines, and almost everywhere you look, show someone reaching for aspirin, ibuprofen, or even narcotics to manage their pain.
However, this new research clearly supports that seeing a chiropractor and/or engaging in light exercise can bring neck pain relief more effectively than relying on pain medications! Researchers even found that the benefits of chiropractic adjustments were still favored A YEAR LATER when comparing the differences between the spinal manipulation and medication treated groups! Moderate acute neck pain is one of the most frequent complaints prompting appointments at primary care/medical clinics and is estimated to account for millions of doctor visits per year. In some cases, pain and stiffness occurs without a known cause and there is no “standard” medical treatment. Though physical therapy, pain medication, and chiropractic have all been utilized for neck pain, until now no one had compared the benefits of each in a single study.
The study consisted of 272 neck pain subjects split up into three groups: 1) Chiropractic group (approximately 20-minute treatments an average of 15 times); 2) Pain medication group (meds included acetaminophen, and in some cases stronger prescription meds including narcotics and muscle relaxants); 3) Physical Therapy group (consisting of meeting twice and receiving advice and exercise instruction at 5-10 repetitions up to eight times a day).
At the end of three months, the chiropractic and exercise group did significantly better than those who took drugs. Approximately 57% of those receiving chiropractic management and 48% of those who did the exercises reported at least 75% reduction in pain vs. 33% of people in the medication group. A year after the treatment period ended, the numbers decreased to 53% in the chiropractic and exercise groups, compared to 38% in pain medication group. The chiropractic group received the highest scores in patient satisfaction at all time points. An interesting downside noted in the medication study group was that the subjects had to use a progressively greater amount of medication at a progressively increased frequency to manage their pain. Stomach trouble is the most common side effect of NSAIDs (leading to ulcers) as well as liver and kidney problems. Another interesting finding was that the subjects in the medication treated group felt less empowered, less active, and less in control over their own condition compared with those in the other two groups.
This study points out the benefits of two treatment approaches that chiropractors commonly utilize: spinal manipulation and exercise training/advice!
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires care for neck pain, we would be honored to render our services.
Pain Relief Chiropractic 