Lifecare Chiropractic
James Bogash, DC
Amy Strock, DC

1830 S. Alma School Rd
Bldg 7, Ste 135
Mesa, AZ 85210
(480) 839-CARE (2273)

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In this issue of To Your Health:

Kudos to Chiropractic Every year, chiropractic becomes more and more ingrained into the mainstream health care system. One reason for this is happy patients who tell friends about the positive experiences they've enjoyed at their chiropractor's office. In a recent review of data from a 1998 national U.S. telephone survey, a majority of chiropractic patients relayed their satisfaction with the care they recieved. Out of a large group of respondents, researchers randomly selected 400 respondents who had undergone chiropractic treatment and 400 who had not. The results of the survey showed that an overwhelming percentage of patients, most of whom were treated for back pain, neck pain or headaches, were "very satisfied" (53.5 percent) or "satisfied" (29.5 percent) with chiropractic care. If you are a chiropractic patient, please tell your friends; if not, why not make an appointment with your local chiropractor now? For information on the benefits of chiropractic care, visit www.chiroweb.com/find. Gaumer G. Factors associated with patient satisfaction with chiropractic care: survey and review of the literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2006;29:455-462.
A Natural Way to Prevent the Common Cold

There seem to be endless remedies for the common cold, but wouldn't it be great if you could prevent one from occurring in the first place? According to a recent study supported by the National Cancer Institute, one year of moderate-intensity exercise reduced the incidence of colds in postmenopausal women.

The group of participants included 115 overweight and obese, sedentary, postmenopausal women from the Seattle area. Women were randomly assigned to either a moderate-intensity exercise group or to a control group that did not exercise. The exercises consisted of 45-minute sessions, five days per week for 12 months. The control group attended weekly 45-minute stretching sessions.

The number of colds in the intervention group was lower in the first three months of the study and was approximately three times lower than the stretching group at the end of the 12-month study. To find out more about the benefits of exercise and other natural ways to prevent/fight colds, see your chiropractor. For recent articles on the subject, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/women.html or www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/sports.html.

Chubak J, McTiernan A, Soresen B, et al. Moderate-intensity exercise reduces the incidence of colds among postmenopausal women. American Journal of Medicine 2006;119:937-942.

Working Out for Better Vision

Exercising may help more than your biceps, triceps and other muscles; it may help your eyes as well. A 15-year cumulative study recently published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology showed physical activity had a positive effect on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye condition associated with aging. AMD gradually deteriorates the ability to see objects clearly when performing common daily tasks such as reading and driving.

Between 1988 and 1990, 4,926 individuals were given a baseline eye examination. The patients were then retested every five years. They were also questioned about their daily physical activity with questions such as: On average, how many city blocks do you walk each day? The study included men and women between the ages of 43 and 86.

According to the study results, the incidence of AMD dropped up to 70 percent in individuals who led a more active lifestyle. Other factors, such as diet, were also taken into consideration. To learn more about how to keep active in your golden years, talk to your chiropractor and visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/aging.html.

Knudtson M, Klein R, Klein B. Physical activity and the 15-year cumulative incidence of age-related macular degeneration: The Beaver Dam eye study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, October 2006;90(10):1461-1463.

Survey Shows Fad Diets Not the Fad

South Beach, Atkins, and every other diet on the market these days may be out with the old, according to a recent national survey by America on the Move, a national non-profit organization that encourages improved health and quality of life by promoting a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

A total of 2,339 U.S. adults, 18 and older, were polled concerning their efforts to lose weight/maintain a healthy weight and their opinions of a healthy diet and physical activity. The results of the survey showed that 69 percent of the respondents were less likely to try a fad diet today compared to five years ago. Sixty-six percent of the individuals had recently started a new activity, program or diet to lose weight or stay healthy. Overall, 71 percent understood the need for living healthy and eating right.

An active and healthy lifestyle is beneficial for work, play and family. For more information on how to benefit from changes in diet and which exercises are right for you, ask your chiropractor, or visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition/index.html.

Fad Diets Less Popular Today Than Five Years Ago: America On the Move survey shows Americans ready for healthy alternatives to dieting; community involvement crucial to success. America On the Move. www.americaonthemove.org

Red Palm Oil Helps Fight Vitamin A Deficiency

When it comes to getting their daily supply of vitamins, children often miss out in the long run. Whether it's because of the morning rush to school or the lack of information their parents have on their benefits, kids aren't getting enough of these important nutritional supplements. In a year-long study of African school children, researchers discovered the benefits of adding red palm oil to the daily meals to help boost the vitamin A levels in the students.

Red palm oil has recently been promoted as a food supplement for vitamin A. In the study, each one of the young volunteers received 15 ml of red palm oil in their individual meals three times a week after taking a baseline reading of their deficiency levels. Other children were given a vitamin A supplement with their meals, while others received neither. Twelve months later, a second reading was taken. The children who ingested the meals with the red palm oil additive saw a 26 percent improvement in their deficiency levels, comparable to the 29 percent improvement for the children who took a vitamin A capsule.

As shown by the results, vitamins can come in many forms, not just the cartoon-shaped chewable we sometimes forget to give our kids. To find out more about the benefits of vitamins and their role in development in children ask your chiropractor, or visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/nutrients.html.

Zeba A, Prevel Y, Some I, et al. The positive impact of red palm oil in school meals on vitamin A status: study in Burkina Faso. Nutrition Journal 2006, 5:17. www.nutritionj.com/content/5/1/17.

Insomniacs Have Alternative Choices

Tired of all the Lunesta and Ambient commercials keeping you up? Ads with glowing butterflies that are supposed to help you get a good night's rest, as long as you have a full eight hours to sleep and don't mind waking up groggy the next morning.

A recent study by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) shows that over 1.6 million Americans use some form of complementary or alternative treatment to help with insomnia. Some of the more commonly used therapies included dietary supplements such as melatonin and valerian, meditation, acupuncture and yoga.

If you are having trouble sleeping at night and want to stay clear of the all the new sleep aides on the market, be sure to ask your chiropractor about other options that are available, or visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/herbs.html.

Pearson N, Johnson L, Nahin R. Insomnia, Trouble Sleeping, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Analysis of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey Data. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2006;166:1775-1782.

Watching Your Back at Work

Sitting in front of a computer screen with your body planted into an anything-but-comfortable chair can definitely do a number on your lower back. Add to that the stress which sometimes goes along with the 9-to-5 workday and your back is in for trouble. A recent study in Finland has found that a little exercise can go a long way at the office.

A group of office workers who had complained that their back pain was restricting their effectiveness on the job were measured by the researchers before teaching them some simple exercises that could help with their daily backaches. Over 15 weeks the workers were taught and performed various forms of light resistance training.

The study showed a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of low back pain symptoms attributable to exericising. After exercising for only five minutes every day during the work week, subjects' back pain decreased by 19 percent.

Doctors of chiropractic treat back pain with a number of different techniques, including adjustments, stretching and strength exercises, and hot/cold therapy. To find out more about how your chiropractor can help with lower back pain, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/backpain.html.

Sjogren T, Nissinen K, Jarvenpaa S, et al. Effects of a workplace physical exercise intervention on the intensity of low back symptoms in office workers: A cluster randomized controlled cross-over design. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2006;19(1): 13-24.

A Colorful Way to Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease, a common form of dementia that currently affects 13 million people across the globe, may start losing the battle because of a new enemy - fruit and vegetable juice. The results of a new study published in the September 2006 edition of The Journal of American Medicine suggest that the antioxidant polyphenols found naturally in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of the onset of Alzheimer's.

A group of 1,836 dementia-free Japanese-Americans in the Seattle area were chosen for the study. Information was collected on their consumption of fruit and vegetable juice with the use of a questionnaire and was assessed every two years for up to 10 years. The results showed that individuals who drank juice three or more times a week were 76 percent less likely to develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's compared to those who drank less than one serving a week.

The only limitation of the study was that specific juices were not found to be more effective than others. This may lead to a more precise study of individual vegetable and fruit juices. To find out more about the benefits of antioxidants and other compounds found in fruits and vegetables, talk to your chiropractor and visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/nutrients.html.

Dai Q, Borenstein A, Wu Y, et al. Fruit and vegetable juices and Alzheimer's disease: the Kame project. The American Journal of Medicine, September 2006;119(9):751-759.

Minty Alternative to Aspirin

Traditional therapies in China once called upon the use of mint oil for sprains, joint pains and inflammation. The philosopher Hippocrates also treated these ailments by "cooling" the skin. A new study by the University of Edinburgh (England) suggests these ancient remedies still have a positive effect on these same symptoms.

The study found that mint oil and other related chemical compounds act through a recently discovered protein which is capable of binding with these chemicals and is found in a small percentage of nerve cells in the human skin. This new/old treatment uses the body's own mechanisms to help ease pain.

The use of these compounds is likely to have minimal toxic side effects since they are applied to the skin and not ingested. They could therefore be ideal for chronic pain patients who do not benefit from conventional pain killers. Of course, talk to your doctor before trying any over-the-counter remedies, be they medications or natural products, to avoid potential interactions or side effects. For more information on some other members of the mint family and their benefits, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/scullcap.html and www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/leonorus.html.

Proudfoot C, Garry E, Cottrell D, et al. Analgesia mediated by the TRPM8 cold receptor in chronic neuropathic pain. Current Biology, August 22, 2006;16(16):1591-1605.

James Bogash, DC and Amy Strock, DC
1830 S. Alma School Rd, Bldg 7, Ste 135, Mesa, AZ 85210
(Alma School Road, just south of the Superstition Freeway/Highway 60)
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