     
What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture
is the insertion of various needles into points on the body. These points are
located and join together in 'channels' or 'meridians', along which Qi or energy
flows. The ancient Chinese physicians selected specific acupuncture points
to disperse any blockages and to bring the patient's Qi into balance.
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August 2000 To Your Health
Volume 3, Number 8
Get the Full Story on Medications
News media can exert tremendous influence over public opinion. The need for
accuracy in reporting is vital, particularly when disseminating information on
new medical treatments.
A recent paper in The New England Journal of Medicine provides evidence that
media coverage may be overenthusiastic in their reporting on medical
"breakthroughs." Specifically, the study reviewed U.S. news stories
about three medications used in the prevention of major diseases (pravastatin, a
cholesterol-lowering drug; alendronate, a drug used to fight osteoporosis; and
aspirin, used in the prevention of cardiovascular disease).
Analysis of 180 newspaper articles (60 for each drug) and 27 TV reports between
1994-1998 revealed four disturbing omissions:
1) Forty percent of the news stories did not report benefits quantitatively
(i.e., data or figures representing actual measured benefits).
2) Of the stories that did report quantitative benefits, 83% reported relative
benefits only. (An example of relative benefits would be stating that a
particular drug "halved" the risk of fractures, as opposed to absolute
benefits, stating that the drug "reduced the fracture rate by 1%.)
3) Less than half (47%) of the stories mentioned potential risks, and only 30%
mentioned costs.
4) Of the stories that cited an expert or scientific study as support, 50% had
ties to the drug manufacturer. More distressing, these ties were disclosed in
only 39% of the stories.
The moral to this story is clear: Don't take what you read, watch or hear at
face value, especially when it involves the health and safety of you and your
loved ones. Find out as much information as possible about new medications,
especially if your doctor has recently prescribed or recommended a new drug, and
always investigate potential nonpharmaceutical alternatives for treating your
condition.
Moynihan R, Bero L, Ross-Degnan D, et al. Coverage by the news media of the
benefits and risks of medications. The New England Journal of Medicine 2000:
Vol. 342,
No. 22, pp1645-50.
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During Pregnancy, Don't Forget about CHIROPRACTIC
The physiological and anatomical changes associated with pregnancy can
contribute to any number of complications. Although most of these problems are
mild, some carry significant health risk for the mother, child or both. Classic
examples of potentially severe complications include high blood pressure,
diabetes and anemia.
Musculoskeletal injuries may be another complication to consider, according to a
study that analyzed the effect of gait alterations (basically, changes to
walking patterns) during pregnancy. During the second half of their final
trimester and again one year after birth, 15 women repeatedly walked 12 yards
with reflective markers attached to their pelvis, hips, knees, ankles and feet.
Video cameras were used as part of a motion analysis system to gather data.
Overall, gait was remarkably unchanged, although significant increases in hip
and ankles parameters were observed. The authors speculate that during
pregnancy, there may be an increased demand placed on hip and ankle muscles when
walking, potentially increasing the risk for any number of musculoskeletal
overuse injuries.
These findings emphasize the value of chiropractic care during pregnancy.
Regular chiropractic adjustments can help prevent musculoskeletal injuries and
ease the pain of injuries if and when they do occur.
Foti T, Davids JR, Bagley A. A biomechanical analysis of gait during pregnancy.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, May 2000: Vol. 82, pp625-32.
For more information on women's health, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/women.html
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Battling Fatigue as We Age
Fatigue strikes everyone at one time or another - after vigorous exercise, a
long workday, or prolonged stress. In the elderly population, fatigue can be a
severe problem, especially for seniors suffering from physical ailments.
How serious is the problem? According to a study in the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society, very serious. A survey of 199 residents at a residential
care facility revealed that almost all of the participants reported some fatigue
symptoms: 51% reported mild fatigue, 40% reported moderate fatigue, and 7%
reported severe fatigue. Fatigue also influenced depression, activities of daily
living, pain, medication use, and the ability to perform a three-minute walk.
Even more distressing, one in four seniors reported suffering chronic fatigue
(1-5 years), and 11% reported fatigue lasting more than five years!
Whether you're young or old, the battle against fatigue is an important one. How
do we fight fatigue? There's no single answer, but consistent exercise and a
sensible diet might be a good place to start. Your chiropractor can tell you
more about fatigue and outline a wellness program to keep you active now and in
the future.
Liao S, Ferrell BA. Fatigue in an older population. Journal of the American
Geriatrics
Society 2000: Vol. 48, pp426-30.
Information on senior health can be found online at http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/senior.html
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Walking away from High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is known as "the silent killer"
because symptoms frequently do not surface until the onset of serious
complications, such as kidney failure, heart failure or stroke. Nearly one in
five Americans suffers from high blood pressure, despite substantial evidence
linking modifiable risk factors (i.e., exercise and diet) with the condition.
Further evidence comes from a Japanese study of 6,017 men (35-60 years of age)
with normal blood pressure (less than 140/90) and without history of high blood
pressure. Analysis of data on work and leisure-time physical activity, length of
walk to work, and other variables (alcohol intake, smoking habits, etc.)
revealed that duration of the daily walk to work was independently associated
with a reduced risk for hypertension.
Specifically, men whose walk to work lasted 21 minutes or more had a decreased
risk compared with those whose walk lasted 10 minutes or less, and this
association was maintained even after considering age, body mass, alcohol
consumption, smoking status, blood pressure, and frequency of other physical
activity.
The authors' concluding recommendation may be the most important lesson:
"Even persons who drive to work or use public transportation may benefit
from parking or leaving their transportation more than a 20-minute walk from the
office." Talk to your doctor about the dangers of high blood pressure and
about what you can do to minimize your risk.
Hayashi T, Tsumura K, Suematsu C, et al. Walking to work and the risk for
hypertension
in men: the Osaka Health Survey. Annals of Internal Medicine 1999: Vol. 130,
pp21-26.
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Preventing Colon Cancer with Plant Foods
The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 170,000 cancer deaths could be
prevented each year in the United States, primarily by increased attention to
early warning signs and risk factors. Colon cancer, one of the most common forms
of the disease, is thought to be influenced by dietary considerations, a premise
investigated in a recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition.
Researchers evaluated the potential influence of carotenoids (pigments found
primarily in plant foods) in 1,993 patients with colon cancer and 2,410 healthy
subjects. Intake of various carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene,
lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin) was examined in relation to age at
diagnosis and colon tumor site.
A detailed dietary questionnaire provided data on diet history, and nutrient
values for dietary carotenoids were determined using the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture-Nutrition Coordinating Center carotenoid database (1998). Results
showed that subjects with high lutein intake had a reduced risk of colon cancer;
no significant associations were noted between colon cancer and any of the other
carotenoids studied.
Major dietary sources of lutein include spinach, broccoli, lettuce, and other
green-leaf vegetables. Tomatoes, oranges, carrots and celery also provide
moderate amounts of this cancer-fighting carotenoid. For more information on the
power of nutrition to maintain health and wellness, schedule a consultation with
your doctor of chiropractic.
Slattery ML, Benson J, Curtin K, et al. Carotenoids and colon cancer. American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000: Vol. 71, pp575-82.
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Too Many Cesarean Sections?
Although a Cesarean section can be a lifesaving technique for mother and infant,
it is a major surgical procedure with substantial risk to both parties. Cesarean
sections are now performed in nearly 25% of all deliveries in the United States
- a dramatic increase from only 20 years ago.
Lack of progress in labor is a predominant reason for Cesarean delivery in the
U.S., accounting for one third of the nearly one million Cesareans performed
annually. Is this number too high? Yes, according to the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) published diagnostic criteria for
abnormal labor patterns and guidelines for proceeding to Cesarean delivery. In a
recent study, ACOG criteria were compared with actual clinical delivery
practices involving 733 women in California and Iowa from 1993-1994.
A review of medical records and a postpartum telephone survey were used to
gather data on proportion of unplanned Cesareans performed for lack of progress
in labor; cervical dilation at time of Cesarean; length of second labor stage;
and other variables. Results showed that lack of progress was a dominant reason
for Cesarean delivery, even during the latent phase of labor or when labor was
not prolonged (second stage).
The authors emphasize that "these practices do not conform to published
diagnostic criteria for lack of progress." In other words, too many
Cesarean sections! Consult with your team of health care professionals during
pregnancy to ensure a smooth, safe delivery.
Gifford DS, Morton SC, Fiske M, et al. Lack of progress in labor as a reason for
cesarean. Obstetrics & Gynecology, April 2000: Vol. 95, No. 4, pp589-95.
For additional information on women's health, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/women.html
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Hostility Linked to Heart Disease?
Anger and hostility aren't the same, although they often conjure up one
familiar, unpleasant image. Picture the face of the driver you've accidentally
cut off on the freeway - very angry, very hostile. While anger is a feeling or
emotion, hostility is actually a character and personality trait involving
anger, cynicism, mistrust of others, and overt and repressed aggression.
Hostility (and anger) do little to contribute to health and wellness, but
increasing evidence suggests that the opposite mechanism may take effect. Case
in point comes from a study in the May 17, 2000 issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association. Hostility questionnaires administered to 374
men and women (18-30 years old at baseline) provided data on hostility (over a
five-year period), and CT scans taken at year 10 examinations assessed the
presence of detectable coronary artery calcification - heart disease.
Subjects with above-average hostility scores had more than two times the risk of
coronary artery damage compared to less hostile subjects, and five-year changes
in hostility were also related with incidence of the disease. The authors
conclude that ".a high hostility level may predispose young adults to
coronary artery calcification."
So don't get mad, get healthy! Your doctor can tell you more about the risk
factors for heart disease and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Iribarren C, Sidney S, Bild DE, et al. Association of hostility with coronary
artery calcification in young adults. Journal of the American Medical
Association,
May 17, 2000: Vol. 283, No. 19, pp2546-51.
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Ginseng May Help Diabetes Sufferers
In the last seven years, herbal medicine use has increased by nearly 380% in the
United States. One reason for this startling statistic is the widespread use of
ginseng, an herb used for centuries in the Far East to boost energy.
Ginseng comes in two forms, Asian ginseng and American ginseng; the latter
species of the herb has been associated with enhanced sex drive, memory and
learning. Evidence suggests that American ginseng may also exert some influence
over diabetes.
Diabetics are prone to episodes of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood
sugar (hypoglycemia), either of which can require immediate medical attention. A
study published in the April 10, 2000 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine
found that American ginseng (panax quinquefolius L) significantly influenced
blood glucose levels in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Specifically, the
authors note that this form of ginseng may prove useful in the treatment of
diabetes, and call for further research on the subject.
It's estimated that more than five million Americans are receiving treatment for
diabetes, and millions more have undetected diabetes. Although there is no known
cure, evidence (including these study results) suggests that appropriate
nutritional considerations can help keep the disease in check.
Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Koo VYY, et al. American Ginseng (panax quinquefolius
L) reduces postpradial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2
diabetes mellitus. Archives of Internal Medicine, April 10, 2000: Vol. 160,
pp1009-13.
For more information on the value of nutrition, visit http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html
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