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RESEARCH AFFIRMS THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHIROPRACTIC
Tooth decay occurs well before you get the first warning signs
of pain. That is why the dental profession recommends regular check-ups
which include teeth cleaning and gum care as well as the regular home care
of brushing and flossing teeth. Wear and tear of the engine
in a car will occurs well before the oil runs out, but everyone knows to
change the oil every three thousand miles.
"Similarly, according to chiropractic theory and practice, vertebral
subluxation [the area of the spine or other joint which is stuck and
needs to be adjusted] may have a significant impact on health before
the appearance of pain or other signs and symptoms. For example, loss
of movement or stiffness in a spinal joint may lead to associated
degenerative changes [osteoarthritis] - changes that can
be prevented or even
reversed if there is timely treatment to restore movement in the joint,
but that may be irreversible before warning signs of pain appear."
In several experiments, the knee joints of rabbits
were immobilized [splinted so they could not bend] for 16 weeks.
Within ONE WEEK degenerative changes began to occur and by week 12 the
joints were completely fused.
The follow-up experiment was even more interesting. In one group of
rabbits which were immobilized for five weeks, the splints were then
removed. Over the next 18 months, some were released to "normal
cage activity" and some jogged on a treadmill five days per week.
The rabbits in both of these groups had NO increase in the level of
osteoarthritis once they resumed regular activity.
So what's the bottom line: Loss of movement in a joint leads to
significant degeneration (arthritis) and this may happen well before
symptoms occur. Timely restoration of this movement by chiropractic
adjustments and regular exercise will prevent, halt and may reverse
these degenerative changes.
REGULAR EXERCISE AND MONTHLY ADJUSTMENTS WORK!
From The Chiropractic Report, May 2004, p.1
ASPIRIN AND HEART ATTACKS
"Aspirin is the preferred preventive treatment for those who have already
had a heart attack (secondary prevention), at least for the majority
of people who are not intolerant to aspirin. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has approved the use of aspirin in the following
situation in patients:
- who have had a previous heart attack or unstable chest
pain (angina), to reduce death and non-fatal heart attacks
- who have chronic stable angina, to reduce heart attacks
and sudden death
- who have undergone revascularization procedures,
such as the placement of a stent, for a pre-existing condition
- who had had ischemic stroke or transient ischemia
[loss of blood flow] of the brain due to fibrin platelet emboli (clots),
to reduce death and non-fatal stroke.
"The lack of evidence of an aspirin benefit in the primary prevention
of heart attack is clearly outweighed by the increased risk of bleeding
from aspirin, and you should not use aspirin for the primary prevention
of heart attacks."
From Worst Pills Best Pills, May 2004, pp.33-34.
MORE ON THE RISKS OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS
"An odd thing happened in Canada when the Ontario government began paying
for a new generation of supposedly safer arthritis drugs: Hospital
admissions for stomach bleeding rose."
"The unexpected finding runs counter to expectations that these widely
prescribed drugs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, would relieve pain and
inflammation with little risk of stomach upset and irritation."
The study is the latest to question the highly touted promise of Cox-2
inhibitors. The painkillers, part of a class of drugs known as non
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], have become blockbusters, despite
selling for about $80 a month in the U.S. For many doctors, managing
the risk of stomach bleeding seemed worth the price, since that is
a major drawback to older NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin,
which sell for pennies a day."
My two cents: The best comment about these drugs was by a
gastroenterologist and professor at USC School of Medicine. When
talking about NSAIDs he said, "But if you don't need one, don't take
one." These drugs are for short term use and not to be used
day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year.
Fix the cause of the problem!
From the Wall Street Journal, 6/11/04, p.B1
RUNNING AND JOINT PAIN
This is a topic of great debate - does the pounding of running cause the
"wear and tear" arthritis to occur in the feet, knees and hips? A
continuing study begun at Stanford in 1984 provides the most definitive
results. Initially, 863 people (632 males and 231 females) ranging in
age from 50 to 72 took part in the research. 498 individuals were
long-distance runners, while 365 subjects did not run at all.
For the past 20 years the study has found no higher incidence of arthritis
among runners. The runners also have a lower risk of muscle and skeletal
related disability and pain. A study by the CDC (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention) and Cooper Institute also found no link
between running and arthritis at the hip and knee.
My two cents: Obviously, there are many variables: age, physical
conditioning, running surface, running shoes, number of training days
per week, number of miles run per week, bodyweight, flexibility, etc.
My experience with runners has been that many overtrain, don't stretch,
don't weight train, and don't listen to what their bodies are telling them.
The bottom line is that a well thought out running program should keep
you healthy and fit for life, not cause injury. A little maintenance
care (Chiropractic ring a bell) goes a long way.
FAT-INTAKE LIMITS
A panel summoned by the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and
Human Services recommended that fat intake should be between 20% and
35% of all calories. Saturated fat should be limited to 10% of calories for
children and adults with normal cholesterol levels and 7% of calories
for those with high cholesterol levels (greater than 200mg/dl). The
panel, which meets every five years, also recommended increased vitamin D
intake and regular exercise.
From the Wall Street Journal, 5/27/04, p. D7.
My two cents: To convert grams of fat to calories of fat,
multiply the number of grams of fat by 9. This number is calories from
fat.
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YOUCANBEFIT.COM
Steven Horwitz, D.C., C.S.C.S. and Samantha Horwitz, J.D., CPT-NASM
12200 Tech Road, Suite 104
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-622-9000
11322 Hollowstone Drive
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-770-4602
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