5 Facts You Should Know About Whiplash

12 Oct

Many people seek chiropractic care for low back, mid-back, neck pain, and pain in the extremities, but what about balance and / or dizziness, as they often go together? Can chiropractic management help people suffereing from frequent falls due to balance and/or dizziness problems? Let’s take a look!

When considering treatment for balance, we must talk about the “proprioceptive system.” The way the body “communicates” between all the various body parts is by proprioceptors, which are located in skeletal muscles and joint capsules, and these relay information to the brain. This information from the various body parts is then integrated with incoming information from the vestibular system (inner ear). The brain also relies heavily on the cerebellum located in the back of the head, which is largely responsible for coordinating the unconscious (automatic) aspects of proprioception. The ability to maintain balance, such as when standing on one leg (eyes open and closed), is dependent on the ability for the ALL THREE of these systems to work properly, and like any other skill, “…practice makes perfect!” Please try standing on one leg and then shut your eyes. Can you feel your ankle, foot, leg, and the rest of your body struggle to keep you balanced? For those of us under age 60, it’s “normal” to be able to balance on one foot with eyes closed for 25 seconds (or 10 and 4 seconds if you are between 60-69 or, 70-79 years old, respectively)! Scary, isn’t it? But don’t feel bad, as most of us can’t do this at first. With practice and the right exercises, you will be able to do it. Your “kinesthetic sense” CAN BE improved, and we as chiropractors can guide you in the process. So, how does dizziness fit into this picture? Let’s talk about the ear!

Our ears have two jobs: hearing and balance. The outer ear catches sound and funnels it to the eardrum which vibrates and moves three little bones that transmit the information to the cochlea and finally to the brain allowing us to hear sound. Deep inside the ear is the “vestibular apparatus,” which is the organ of equilibrium that assists in balance. Here, three semi-circular canals are filled with fluid and two sac-like structures located at the base called the utricule and saccule. The fluid in the canals flows past little hair-like structures that are connected to nerves that relay information to the brain, telling it where we are in space (horizontal – laying down, vertical – standing) and if we’re moving forwards / accelerating or moving up/down (like in an elevator).

There are little tiny “stones” in these two sacs that move the little hair-like structures but they can dislodge into the canal and alter the flow of fluid (like a rock sticking out of a flowing river creating eddy currents), which alters the direction the little hairs bend, resulting in vertigo or dizziness as the brain is receiving conflicting information from the hairs bending in multiple/different directions. This is called “BPPV” (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which is brief episodes of vertigo immediately following a change in head position such as rolling over in bed, getting up from sitting or laying, etc. This is the most common cause of vertigo. If you Google “BPPV,” you will find different exercises that can move these little stones back into position (Brandt-Daroff and Epley’s maneuver), both of which work well often within a day or two. This is a good place to start, and if the balance/dizziness (vertigo) doesn’t improve, then we will consider other possibilities such as inner ear inflammation or acute vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease, vestibular migraine, acoustic neuroma, blood pressure issues, medication side effects, and more. We can teach you the BPPV exercises and perform cervical adjustments, which can also help significantly.

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.

Chiropractic Can Help Balance & Dizziness.

11 Oct

Many people seek chiropractic care for low back, mid-back, neck pain, and pain in the extremities, but what about balance and / or dizziness, as they often go together? Can chiropractic management help people suffering from frequent falls due to balance and/or dizziness problems? Let’s take a look!

When considering treatment for balance, we must talk about the “proprioceptive system.” The way the body “communicates” between all the various body parts is by proprioceptors, which are located in skeletal muscles and joint capsules, and these relay information to the brain. This information from the various body parts is then integrated with incoming information from the vestibular system (inner ear). The brain also relies heavily on the cerebellum located in the back of the head, which is largely responsible for coordinating the unconscious (automatic) aspects of proprioception. The ability to maintain balance, such as when standing on one leg (eyes open and closed), is dependent on the ability for the ALL THREE of these systems to work properly, and like any other skill, “…practice makes perfect!” Please try standing on one leg and then shut your eyes. Can you feel your ankle, foot, leg, and the rest of your body struggle to keep you balanced? For those of us under age 60, it’s “normal” to be able to balance on one foot with eyes closed for 25 seconds (or 10 and 4 seconds if you are between 60-69 or, 70-79 years old, respectively)! Scary, isn’t it? But don’t feel bad, as most of us can’t do this at first. With practice and the right exercises, you will be able to do it. Your “kinesthetic sense” CAN BE improved, and we as chiropractors can guide you in the process. So, how does dizziness fit into this picture? Let’s talk about the ear!

Our ears have two jobs: hearing and balance. The outer ear catches sound and funnels it to the eardrum which vibrates and moves three little bones that transmit the information to the cochlea and finally to the brain allowing us to hear sound. Deep inside the ear is the “vestibular apparatus,” which is the organ of equilibrium that assists in balance. Here, three semi-circular canals are filled with fluid and two sac-like structures located at the base called the utricule and saccule. The fluid in the canals flows past little hair-like structures that are connected to nerves that relay information to the brain, telling it where we are in space (horizontal – laying down, vertical – standing) and if we’re moving forwards / accelerating or moving up/down (like in an elevator).

There are little tiny “stones” in these two sacs that move the little hair-like structures but they can dislodge into the canal and alter the flow of fluid (like a rock sticking out of a flowing river creating eddy currents), which alters the direction the little hairs bend, resulting in vertigo or dizziness as the brain is receiving conflicting information from the hairs bending in multiple/different directions. This is called “BPPV” (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which is brief episodes of vertigo immediately following a change in head position such as rolling over in bed, getting up from sitting or laying, etc. This is the most common cause of vertigo. If you Google “BPPV,” you will find different exercises that can move these little stones back into position (Brandt-Daroff and Epley’s maneuver), both of which work well often within a day or two. This is a good place to start, and if the balance/dizziness (vertigo) doesn’t improve, then we will consider other possibilities such as inner ear inflammation or acute vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease, vestibular migraine, acoustic neuroma, blood pressure issues, medication side effects, and more. We can teach you the BPPV exercises and perform cervical adjustments, which can also help significantly.

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.

Neck Pain – Drugs or Chiropractic?

8 Oct

When you have neck pain, do you instinctively reach for that bottle of ibuprofen or Tylenol? If so, is that the best option? Who can we trust for the answer? Since between 10-20% of the population suffer from chronic or persistent neck pain, this is a VERY IMPORTANT question!

If we look at the literature published in peer reviewed journals by authors who have no financial incentives in the outcome of the study, we can find accurate, non-biased information to answer this question. So, let’s start with a landmark study published in SPINE, a leading medical journal that reviewed ALL the publications printed between 2000 and 2010 on neck pain – a total of 32,000 articles with over 25,000 hours of review. (Haldeman S, Carroll L, Cassidy JD, et. al. The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders: Executive Summary. Spine 2008,33(4S):S5-S7). This resulted in a 220 page comprehensive report from a multidisciplinary International Task Force involving seven years of work from 50+ researchers from 19 different clinical scientific disciplines worldwide looking at the MOST EFFECTIVE approaches available (both surgical and non-surgical) for patients suffering from neck pain.

Highlights from the study include the following: 1) Manipulation/mobilization are safe, effective, and appropriate treatment approaches for most patients with disabling neck pain (both traumatic and non-traumatic); 2) Neck pain patients should be informed of ALL effective treatment options so they can choose effectively; 3) The very rare risk of vertebrobasilar artery (VBI) stroke is NO DIFFERENT when comparing patients consulting a doctor of chiropractic verses a primary care medical physician as the stroke event, in most cases, has occurred prior to the visit; 4) The treatment option(s) available should consider the potential side effects and personal preferences of the patient; 5) For most neck pain patients, treatments that were found to be safe and effective include manipulation, mobilization, exercise, education, acupuncture, analgesics, massage, and low-level laser therapy; 6) For non-neurological neck pain, ineffective treatments (poor choices) include surgery, collars, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), most injection therapies (including corticosteroid injections and rhizotomy); 7) For neck pain WITH nerve compression, there is very little research published on non-surgical care. Here, in the absence of serious pathology or progressive neurological loss, start with the most conservative (like chiropractic!) followed by more invasive treatments like epidural steroid injections (ESI’s) and surgery; 8) Whiplash patients should follow similar guidelines as described above; 9) Some benefit from the chosen treatment should be seen within the first two to four weeks of care; and, 10) Be realistic about treatment goals – neck pain is often recurrent (comes and goes) as most people (50-80%) will NOT experience complete resolution of symptoms and will have neck pain again one to five years later.

Another study published in The Annals of Internal Medicine (“Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise with Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial. 3 January 2012, Vol.156, No. 1, Part 1) reports similar information favoring spinal manipulation and exercise, as these were found to be SUPERIOR to medication use. Another study reported excellent results for 27 patients utilizing chiropractic care who had herniated cervical disks WITH spinal cord compression verified on MRI (70% improved after an average of 12 visits)! TRY CHIROPRACTIC FIRST!!!

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.

Fibromyalgia: Dietary Considerations

7 Oct

For many sufferers, Fibromyalgia (FM) is equivalent to fatigue and muscle pain. Though there are MANY symptoms associated with FM, these two are standouts! The topic this month centers around diet and its role in the management of FM. Last month, we discussed the importance of exercise (particularly walking), and prior topics have focused on the need for a multi-modal treatment plan that is individualized for YOU. Coordinate your dietary strategies with your chiropractor’s office and they will guide you in your personalized nutritional planning as it pertains to FM.

Because we are all truly chemically unique, there is no one “recipe” for every FM sufferer. This is why we recommend making a list of the various approaches AS YOU TRY THEM in order to sort out those most vs. least effective, and most importantly, foods that should be avoided altogether. Patient histories tell us that certain foods can create reactions such as cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and more and that list often includes MSG, certain preservatives, eggs, gluten, dairy, and other high “allergy-based” foods. In a survey published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology, 42% of FM patients reported that certain foods make their symptoms worse. Hence, keep a daily FOOD JOURNAL and grade how different foods make YOU feel on a 0= ”good”, 5= “no change,” and 10= “bad” scale. In as little as two weeks, you will start to see a pattern and avoidance of the “bad” foods makes a big difference! Write down any and all of your symptoms, pro or con, and include things like headache, indigestion, fatigue, aching, etc.

Once you see a “trend” for vs. against certain foods, ELIMINATE the ones that upset your irritable bowel, headaches, fatigue, etc., and avoid these foods for six to eight weeks. Then, to “challenge” your list of foods, you can then ADD ONE food back into your diet at a time to determine consistency and if it TRULY is a culprit FOR YOU! From experience, Dr. Ginevra Liptan, MD, medical director of the Frida Center for Fibromyalgia, in Portland, Oregon and author of Figuring Out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effectve Treatements, dairy and gluten appear to be consistent culprits with fatigue, irritable bowel, and leaky gut symptoms like bloating and constipation. We will guide you in this process and/or help coordinate these services with an allergist and/or dietitian when it’s appropriate.

Some preliminary studies are showing that certain medicinal herbs and natural supplements may help manage FM related symptoms – remember to WRITE DOWN your experience with these various options: 1) 5-HTP (5- Hydroxytryptophan): This is a “building block” of serotonin which is a POWERFUL brain chemical associated with sleep and depression. It is thought that serotonin plays a significant role in reducing fibromyalgia suffering, particularly by increasing deep sleep and reducing pain. Studies show improvement in depression, anxiety, and insomnia as well! Though not ALL studies support its benefits, it’s worth a try given its limited side effects and potential for helping! 2) Melatonin: This is a “natural hormone” used to improve sleep patterns, which is a perfect fit for the sleep problems and fatigue associated with FM! Most people tolerate this well but a few may experience drowsiness, and for those, caution is appropriate when driving! 3) Probiotics: This is “…the new kid on the block,” as it’s showing up on labels of everything from yogurt to granola bars! These contain “friendly bacteria” we want in our digestive systems. Certain “strains” or types of “good-guy” bacteria aid in many conditions including irritable bowel, traveler’s diarrhea, reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and more! Note, there are MANY strains of probiotics, which we will discuss in PART 2 next month as we continue this “healthy” discussion of dietary approaches in the management of FM!

If you, a friend or family member requires care for Fibromyalgia, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

Protect Your Own Health from Tick Borne Diseases.

6 Oct

Our basic premise is that your body is amazing. You get a do over. It doesn’t take that long, and it isn’t that hard if you know what to do. In these notes, we give you a short course in what to do so it becomes easy for you, and for you to teach others. We want you to know how much control you have over both the quality and length of your life.

Today we are tackling a problem, but first a question: What do Evander Holyfield and tick-born infections have in common? They can land you flat on your back very quickly. And this year tick-ologists are predicting a particularly intense bite season. Reports of Lyme disease — a nasty rash and potential arthritis and much more including mental dysfunction caused by ticks that transmit Borrelia bacteria — could hit record numbers.

The reason? Not the mild winter, that’s a myth. It’s the lack of acorns! Turns out, when the acorn crop is down (it is), then there are fewer of the ticks’ favorite meal plan out and about: white-footed mice. We kid you not! Without as many little rodents running around, the ticks cruise for a substitute: you.

So, what’s a nature-loving, pet-hugging person to do? Here’s your basic 6-point plan to take the bite out of tick season:

#1 DEET U– Use insect repellant with DEET. Insect repellents with 20 to 30 percent DEET repel ticks. Follow the instructions and apply carefully, avoiding your hands, eyes, and mouth. We’re convinced the benefits far outweigh the risks, if there are any risks at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does say young kids and pregnant women should avoid the pesticide. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (or PMD, for para-menthane-3,8-diol, the synthesized version) is another option. Or, you can always treat your clothing with products containing a chemical called permethrin, applying it to the outsides of boots, pants, socks, and tents. It should remain active through several washings.

#2 HIDE– Cover up with long sleeves and pants tucked into your socks when in grassy or wooded areas and wear light colored clothing to spot any hop-alongs.

#3 CHANGE YOUR LOCATION—Stay away from places where ticks are likely to lurk. The more you can avoid wooded or heavily shrubbed areas, the better — especially ones with high grass and leaf litter. If you’re planning to go hiking in the woods, wear long pants, do the nerdy thing of wearing socks that go over your pants—two pairs of socks are best, and do a thorough tick check after your outing. Repellents are not the only way to guard against ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests making your yard a “tick-safe zone” with smart landscaping changes like a three-foot barrier of wood chips between forested areas and your lawn.

#4. INSPECT, GET NAKED SO YOU DON’T BRING THEM INSIDE, & USE WATER — Shower when you get home and you may wash be able to wash them off (ticks don’t always bite immediately). Even the best efforts may not be enough to stop ticks, so be sure to thoroughly check your clothes, your body, and especially your pets when you get home from an outing. Showering soon after you return can help you locate ticks or tick bites.

#5 HEAT IT UP, BABY—Once you get naked (take your cloths off before you are far into your home) and inspect your body, take all cloths and put them in a hot dryer. Drying clothes on high heat for an hour can kill any ticks that may have burrowed into your clothing.

#6 DON’T FORGET ROVER — Check you pets! Ticks hidden in fur and hair can easily infect you — and your family’s best friend.

#7 KNOW YOUR DOC’S NUMBER — If you ever see signs of Lyme disease (like a bull’s-eye-shaped rash around a bite), consult your doctor as soon as possible. Faster treatment makes a difference in regards to LYME disease putting you out of commission or not.

Thanks for reading. And feel free to send more questions, you can always send us questions at youdocs@gmail.com, and some of them we may know enough to answer (we’ll try to get answers for you if we do not know).

Young Dr. Mike Roizen (aka, The Enforcer)

NOTE: You should NOT take this as medical advice.
This article is of the opinion of its author.
Before you do anything, please consult with your doctor.

You can follow Dr Roizen (and get updates on the latest and most important medical stories of the week) on twitter @YoungDrMike.

Feel free to continue to send questions to youdocs@gmail.com. You can follow Dr Roizen on twitter @YoungDrMike (and get updates on the latest and most important medical stories of the week). The YOU docs have a new web site: YOUBeauty.com and its companion BeautySage.com the only site we know of where you can find skin products proven to meet the claims (opened for business on June 1st, 2012), and a new book: YOU: The Owner’s Manual for Teens.

Michael F. Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer and chair of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. His radio show streams live on http://www.healthradio.net Saturdays from 5-7 p.m . E-mail him questions at YouDocs@gmail.com. He is the co-author of 4 #1 NY Times Best Sellers including : YOU Staying Young and YOU: The Owner’s Manual. He is Chief Medical Consultant to the two year running Emmy award winning Dr Oz show– The Dr Oz show is #2 nationally in daytime TV. See what all the fun is about, and what he, The Enforcer, is up to. Check local listings or log onto DoctorOz.com for channel and time. And for more health info, log onto youbeauty.com anytime.

Some Facts About Water Fluoridation…

6 Oct

Most people living in developed nations do not fluoridate their water. For example, in Western Europe only 3% of the population consumes fluoridated water. While 25 countries have water fluoridation programs, in 11 of these countries, less than 20% of the population consumes fluoridated water: Argentina (19%), Guatemala (13%), Panama (15%), Papa New Guinea (6%), Peru (2%), Serbia (3%), Spain (11%), South Korea (6%), the United Kingdom (11%), and Vietnam (4%).
There are only 11 countries where more than half of the population drinks fluoridated water: Australia (80%), Brunei (95%); Chile (70%), Guyana (62%), Hong Kong (100%), the Irish Republic (73%), Israel (70%), Malaysia (75%), New Zealand (62%), Singapore (100%), and the United States (64%).
In total, 377,655,000 million people worldwide drink artificially fluoridated water, that’s about 5% of the world’s population. Interestingly enough, there is no difference in tooth decay between the Western nations that fluoridate their water and those that do not.

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