May 2015 Health Newsletter

A good portion of those seeking chiropractic care do so for the relief from headaches. Of all the different types of headache, tension headaches are the most common representing approximately 60% of all headaches. Tension headaches are caused by the sustained contraction of the muscles in the neck and head region. Sufferers experience a constant tight or pressure sensation with mild to moderate pain, generally feeling like a tight band is wrapping around the head, lasting from hours to days. According to a new Danish study, tension headache sufferers exhibit neck and shoulder strength up to 26% weaker than in non-sufferers. Also found in those with tension headaches were muscle imbalances between sets of muscles that hold the head straight. Researchers weren’t sure whether the measured muscle weaknesses and imbalances were the result of the tension headaches or a cause of them. The good news is that most chiropractors have great success treating tension headaches. Biomechanical imbalances of the cervical and upper thoracic spine, and, muscle weakness and dysfunction are all things most chiropractors evaluate when treating tension headaches. Chiropractic adjustments along with stretching and strengthening exercises are commonly utilized with much success. If you believe you’re suffering from tension headaches, call your local chiropractor today!

Arlington, Va. – The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in response to recent research calling into question the efficacy of acetaminophen in the management of spinal pain, strongly encourages patients and healthcare providers to consider the benefits of a conservative approach to back pain. According to the British Medical Journal study, the widely used painkiller is ineffective against low-back pain and offers only "minimal short-term benefit" for people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Similar conclusions were reached in a study published in The Lancet in July 2014, that acetaminophen "does not ease low-back pain."
 
"People need complete information about their treatment options," said ACA President Anthony Hamm, DC. "Research supports the use of more conservative treatments as a first-line defense against pain. This sensible approach not only reduces healthcare costs, but may also help some patients avoid riskier treatments altogether."
 
A "conservative care first" approach to health care encourages emphasis on more cost-effective and safer approaches over potentially addictive medications for pain management and health enhancement. Conservative management of painful conditions may include chiropractic manipulation combined with exercise and stretching prior to moving on to high-risk procedures. Chiropractic physicians are the highest-rated healthcare practitioners for low-back pain treatments due to their patient-centered, whole-person approach that provides greater interaction and communication for appropriate diagnosis and development of more cost-effective treatment plans.
 
"There are effective, more conservative treatments that help many patients lessen reliance on addictive painkillers and get back to their normal lives and activities," said Dr. Hamm. "The services provided by chiropractic physicians are not only clinically effective but also cost-effective, so taking a more conservative approach at the onset of low-back pain can also potentially save both patients and the healthcare system money down the line."
 
Numerous recent studies have clearly shown the dangerous overreliance in the United States on prescription painkillers. This has tremendously increased Americans’ risk for overuse, and abuse of these drugs if taken for long periods, leading to more than 17,000 related deaths in 2010 (more than heroin and cocaine combined). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the abuse of prescription pain medications an "epidemic."

Looking to enhance your brain function and improve memory? New research out of Barcelona, Spain indicates a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil and/or mixed nuts can do just that. Researchers randomly assigned 447 healthy aging individuals (average age 67) who were considered at high risk for a cardiovascular complication to 3 different dietary groups - A Mediterranean diet group supplemented with extra virgin olive oil (1 liter per week), a Mediterranean diet group supplemented with mixed nuts (30 grams per day), or a control diet group where participants were advised to reduce dietary fat. All participants received cognitive function tests at the beginning of the study, and those remaining in the study (approximately 75%) after approximately 4 years received the testing again. In general, participants consuming the low-fat control diet experienced a significant decrease in memory and cognitive function. Conversely, participants consuming the Mediterranean diet with nuts experienced significant improvements in memory, while those adding extra virgin olive oil experienced significantly better cognitive function. Both nuts and olive oil contain oleic acid which is one of the most common fats making up the brain which is 70% fat and is dependent upon getting its nourishment from the foods we eat. The antioxidant-rich foods in Mediterranean diets as well as nuts and olive oil provide nourishment to the brain and appear to help protect against overall brain health and cognitive decline.