The Three Most Important Medical Stories of 2015 to Help YOU Stay Young…

16 Feb

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.

Here are our choices for the three most important medical stories of 2015 in regards to helping you stay young…

  1. Try A Periodic Fast. In a new study from the University of Southern California, researchers tested a super-short periodic fast diet strategy that offers the potential benefits of both continual calorie reduction and fasting—without giving up much when it comes to food. Mice ate low-calorie diets for five days twice a month for several months. Humans ate a low-calorie, healthy diet for just five days a month for three months. The results? Mice on the eating plan had less cancer, lost more heart-threatening abdominal fat, developed stronger immunity, and displayed sharper thinking skills than those who chowed down as usual. They also lived longer. Levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)—a compound that can fuel the growth of cancer cells—decreased. Your fellow humans saw improvements in markers linked to a lower risk for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

This new “fast-mimicking diet” that combines a five-day low-cal plan followed by regular eating (an essential important component of the diet) seems to be an effective way to flip on healthy switches throughout your body—and you never miss a meal. In lab studies, the researchers observed the low-cal portion of the plan prompts the death of aging cells throughout the body, and that may increase cells’ resistance to stress. Then, eating normal-size meals again prompts an increase in the number of stem cells—the cells that help repair and rebuild tissue throughout the body.

  1. Test Your Grip Strength with Dr. Roizen’s Nutty Rice Bucket Challenge to Find Out How Long and Well You’ll Live. Don’t ignore your hands. Building grip strength in midlife protects you from inability to do activities of daily life, like dressing, and mobility problems later on and keeps you active longer. Several small studies over the last few decades indicate that your grip strength predicts your risk of disability and even death. This year, a large 17 country 142,000 person study found that your grip strength really does predict if you will live long and prosper. It is not obvious why your grip strength is such a good predictor of disability and death, but it is even a better predictor than your overall muscle mass, your blood pressure, your LDL cholesterol levels, etc. Go to NuttyRiceBucket.org to find a fun (and even entertaining) method using this rice bucket that can help predict if your biological age is older or younger than your calendar age. It’s also a method used by pole vaulters, rock climbers, and even defensive linemen in the NFL to strengthen their grip. Remember, no cheating, but beating 15 seconds will mean you may be much younger than you think.
  1. EAT DMB (Not dumb, but eating this may really make you smarter, and keep you younger much longer). A heart-threatening substance produced by bacteria inside your gut to chow down on foods like red meat and pork called TMAO can be a menace to your body by stimulating it to plug arteries with more and more plaque (and it might also help cancers thrive, and kill brain cells, too). Now we know how to stop it. Brand new studies from the Cleveland Clinic (where Dr. Mike is Chief Wellness Officer) have uncovered a “Superman” compound that thwarts TMAO. And you can start using it today—deliciously—to lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, even kidney problems and wrinkles. This protector is called DMB, but it’s far from dumb.

Found in some extra-virgin olive oils and red wines, DMB stops bacteria in your digestive system from turning choline, l-carnitine, and lecithin from food into the compound that becomes TMAO. In lab studies, DMB stopped gut bugs from making this “pre TMAO.” That means the liver couldn’t convert it into TMAO. With less TMAO in the bloodstream, atherosclerosis—the build-up of fatty, gunky plaque in artery walls—slowed down and even went into reverse. Wow! Meanwhile, back in the digestive system, there was a decrease in TMA-producing gut bugs. Double whammy! It doesn’t take many of these unfriendly bugs to cause problems in your arteries, so the fewer the better.

TMAO seems to matter as much or more than cholesterol in regards to heart and brain health. A study measured TMAO in more than 4,000 men and women, and those with the highest levels were 2 ½ times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke over the next three years than those with the lowest levels. Interestingly, the risk was high regardless of whether their levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol were high or low. Where did this TMAO come from? In related studies, people who ate two hard-boiled eggs or an 8-ounce sirloin steak saw blood levels of TMAO soar. TMAO traps cholesterol inside gunky, foamy cells that burrow into artery walls. Normally, some of this cholesterol is sucked out and whisked away by friendly HDL cholesterol. But dastardly TMAO shuts down that clean-up operation, inviting more and more cholesterol to pile in.

You don’t have to become a vegan to reduce TMAO levels, but it helps. It appears TMAO levels won’t increase if you eat less than four ounces of red meat, eight ounces of lean pork, or two egg yolks per week (not all of ‘em, but any combo of them). Fish is a better entrée, but limit servings of tilapia, cod, and Chilean sea bass—the samples of these tested contained more TMAO than other seafood.

Go for “EV” olive oil: There’s DMB in some cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oils—such as types produced in Spain, in some parts of Turkey and Greece, and California. You need 2-4 tablespoons a day; at 120 calories per tablespoon that could add up so be sure to use it instead of other fats and make other calorie adjustments as needed. Store olive oil away from light in a tightly-capped brown bottle to preserve DMB. Grape seed oil, balsamic vinegar, and red wine may also be good sources.

Now combine the grip strength strengthening of the Nutty Rice Bucket with the periodic reduced calorie diet, and eating DMB, and you just may be 50 years younger than your calendar age at age 95. Not Bad. Now you see why I think these are the three best medical breakthroughs for staying young in 2015….

Thanks for reading. Feel free to send questions—to 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 on twitter @YoungDrMike (and get updates on the latest and most important medical stories of the week). The YOU docs have tow newly revised books: The patron saint “book” of this column YOU Staying Young—revised and YOU: The Owner’s Manual…revised —yes a revision of the book that started Dr Oz to being Dr Oz. These makes great gifts—so do YOU: ON a Diet and YOU: The Owner’s Manual for teens. And, the new book by Dr Mike Roizen: This is YOUR Do-Over

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.radioMD.com Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. He is the co-author of 4 #1 NY Times Best Sellers including: YOU Staying Young.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Let’s Get the FACTS! (Part 2)

15 Feb

Healthcare providers tend to agree that in non-emergency situations, patients with conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) should try non-surgical treatments before consulting with a surgeon. The “PRICE” concept, that is Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, & Elevate can be applied to most injuries, including CTS, especially in the acute/inflammatory stage. However, many of these principles also apply in the chronic stage (more than three months) of CTS.

PROTECT: For the CTS patient, many doctors commonly prescribe a wrist cock-up splint to be worn overnight, which may surprise some of you! During the day, depending on the type of work you do, a wrist splint can actually get in the way and result in increased symptoms, and at times, cause bruising at both ends of the splint (mid-forearm & mid-hand). The primary reason to use the splint at night is that one cannot control the position of their wrist during sleep, and it can often wind up bent. This increases the pressure inside the carpal tunnel up to six to eight times more than normal, potentially causing enough pain and tingling to disturb sleep. The splint guarantees a neutral wrist position, which significantly improves sleep quality and allows healing to occur.

REST: The use of a splint allows the swollen median nerve to heal. However, in order to allow the wrist to rest so inflammation can subside and the condition can fully heal, patients often need to modify their daily activities, at least for a short time. This may require job restrictions, especially if the occupation involves a fast repetitive motion type of tasks and/or forceful gripping.

ICE: The use of an “ice cup”—or an ice cube held with a washcloth to protect the fingertips from getting cold—is by far the most effective approach. Rub the ice directly on the skin over the carpal tunnel so that you experience the four stages of cooling: Cold, Burning, Aching, and Numb (C-BAN). This usually takes about four minutes, and it’s important to stop when numbness occurs, as the next stage of cooling is frostbite. This can be repeated multiple times a day and is often as effective as cortisone shots with fewer side effects (and less pain!).

COMPRESS: The wrist cock-up splint can offer some compression, but an elastic carpal tunnel wrist band will not usually interfere with most activities of daily living. Some versions include a thumb loop to keep the wrist band in place, but that may get in the way. A version without the thumb loop also works very well.

EXERCISE: Exercises performed at home and work can significantly help manage the condition. (Note: For injuries like a sprained ankle, E typically stands for ELEVATE, though it’s not practical for the CTS patient.)

Tune in next month for the unique techniques that chiropractic offers to the non-surgical care of CTS as well as the importance of preventative measures and research.

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 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 717-697-1888

Spondylolisthesis – What Is That?

11 Feb

Spondylolisthesis, or a slipped vertebra (as opposed to a slipped disk or herniated disk), is when one vertebra slips or slides forwards on the vertebra below, which can occur for a number of reasons including getting older (“degenerative spondylolisthesis”) or trauma (from a fracture in the back of the vertebra called the “pars interarticularis”). Additionally, one can be born with it (congenital), or spondylolisthesis can occur early in life while the spine is still developing. The most common method of measuring the amount the vertebrae slides forwards is done by the percentage of slip (such as 50% is when a vertebra has slid forwards halfway over the adjacent lower vertebra).

This can happen anywhere in the spine (the neck, mid-back, or low back), but it is most commonly seen in the low back, particularly at the lowest levels (L4 and L5). This occurs in about 3-6% of the population; however, in certain populations, the incidence rate can be three times (or more) higher. For example, certain Inuit populations carry their babies vertically in a papoose that overloads the child’s young spine during development, which results in a greater prevalence of spondylolisthesis among that group.

Some studies report that spondylolisthesis usually develops at a very young age, and certain pelvic alignment findings may contribute to whether it is likely to occur, such as a “sway back” posture (increased sacral slope).

An interesting study looked at how often spondylolisthesis is found in subjects with NO low back pain. Researchers reviewed 510 cases of patients presenting with abdominal pain and other non-spine related complaints and found spondylolisthesis in 16 cases (3.1%).

So there you have it! If you have spondylolisthesis, you may have 1) No back pain, 2) Pain related to something entirely different and separate from it; or 3) Pain directly related to it.

In some cases, the cause of a patient’s back pain may be due to spondylolisthesis caused by an unexpected backward bend of the lower back (like a slip and fall, sports injury, etc.) with immediate pain that increases with backward bending. However, in many cases a patient may present with spondylolisthesis that is stable, old, and has nothing to do with their present complaint. A thorough case history and examination will indicate which is more likely the case so that treatment can focus on the likely cause of the patient’s pain.

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 back pain, we would be honored to render our services.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LOW BACK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 717-697-1888


Can Diet Reduce Your Depression Risk?

9 Feb

For years, scientists have investigated how what we eat affects our physical bodies. Clearly, the science of eating for athletic performance and physical health has come a long way. But now, researchers are finally starting to do more studies on how nutrition affects our minds. A large study that included 15,093 participants reported that depression could be linked with nutrient deficits. In other words, what we eat impacts on our mental health too.

In this study, researchers compared several eating patterns to see if they were correlated with either an increased or reduced risk of depression. Lead researcher Dr. Almudena Sanchez-Villegas of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria says, “We wanted to understand what role nutrition plays in mental health, as we believe certain dietary patterns could protect our minds. These diets are all associated with physical health benefits and now we find that they could have a positive effect on our mental health…. The protective role is ascribed to their nutritional properties, where nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables (sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals) could reduce the risk of depression.”

They found the eating patterns linked with the lowest risk of depression were those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts (like the Mediterranean Diet, for example). Interestingly, Dr. Sanchez-Villegas adds that a “threshold effect may exist,” meaning even moderate adherence to the eating pattern mentioned above achieved an important reduction in depression risk and strict adherence didn’t show any extra benefit. In other words, if the results of this study hold true, you do not have to be super-strict with your diet and have a little “wiggle room” to still achieve the same benefits.

Most Adolescents Don’t Get Enough Sleep

8 Feb

For teens, getting enough sleep each night can make a huge difference to both their physical health and academic performance. In general, teenagers need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, only 15% manage to sleep 8.5 hours on a school night. Insufficient sleep can not only result in difficulty concentrating and solving problems but it can also hinder their ability to retain the information they’ve learned in class. Teens who don’t get enough sleep are also more prone to aggressive or inappropriate behavior, which can place a strain on their social lives. Lack of sleep can also lead to acne, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and a greater likelihood of smoking or drinking alcohol.

So, how can a teen get back on track? First, make sleep a priority and get to bed and wake up at a consistent time each day, even on weekends. Exercise each day, as studies have shown regular exercise is associated with better sleeping habits. Avoid consuming foods and drinks containing caffeine late in the day, as they can make falling asleep more difficult. Also, don’t smoke or drink alcohol (which should go without saying). Refrain from watching TV or using electronic devices before bed, as the light from screens can interfere with the body’s ability to fall asleep.

Best of all, these tips can also be used by “grown-ups” to improve their sleep too.

Think of Safyre…

4 Feb

Every day, each person must face a variety of challenges, both internal and external. There is no doubt that the stresses and strains of life can be overwhelming because they cripple and debilitate so many.

Most importantly, whatever challenges you face are challenges that are important to you. In other words, we are not in a contest. It doesn’t matter if someone else has “more problems” than you.

A wise man once said, “If you think you have problems, let us all write them down on a piece of paper and put them in this hat. Now, we will all pick someone else’s problems. I bet, when you read your new problems, you will want your old one back.”

The story you are about to discover is about a little girl whose daily challenges would completely overwhelm even the strongest of us.

Her name is Safyre, and she is eight years old. She is the only survivor of an arson attack that killed her entire family, left her homeless, and burned most of her body.

The arson attack happened in 2013. Firefighters found Safyre holding onto her father’s chest. He died saving his daughter, but he could not protect her from the flames.

Most of her body suffered burns. She has undergone over 50 surgeries including amputation of a hand and foot. She is now being raised by her father’s sister.

Liz Dolder, her aunt says, “Safyre is a typical 8-year-old – she’s just wrapped in a different package… She is the bravest, most courageous little girl you will ever meet. She is funny and witty, sweet and caring, and super strong… She is truly amazing. Once you meet her, she is unforgettable.

“Safyre lost everything her father, her mother, her sister, her brothers, her home, her favorite toy, her favorite outfit – everything that was familiar to her…She even lost the one thing we all take for granted – her reflection. But she wakes every morning with a smile on her face. She is the true definition of hope, faith, and love.”

A story was written about Safyre right before Christmas asking the community for help. It said all she wanted for Christmas was Christmas cards. The last line of the story was: “If you’ve got a stamp to spare, and feel like spreading a little joy, you can mail the cards to: Safyre / P.O. Box 6126 / Schenectady, NY 12306 / USA”

The response was incredible. Cards flooded in from all over the world. Newscasts, newspapers, and websites showed pictures of Safyre holding tons of cards… smiling.

But the big question is: NOW WHAT?

What happens now that Christmas has passed? It is great that so many people came together to make her holiday special, but wouldn’t it be nice if all that love continued?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could take a little time out from your life and send Safyre a postcard from your vacation? Or send her a card or letter just to say hi and to let her know you read about her story and were thinking about her? It would only take a few minutes and the price of a stamp…

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger! Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!

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