Lifecare Chiropractic
James Bogash, D.C.

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:

Avoid Low Back Pain Now ... and Later

Your current regimen of chiropractic care may be working out kinks in your lower back that have been around a lot longer than you remember. A recent study of 10,000 Danish residents shows a link between adolescent and adult low back pain (LBP).

Researchers studied twins born between 1972 and 1982 by sending out questionnaires in 1994 and again in 2002. The questionnaires assessed various general health issues, including LBP, asthma and headache. The outcomes showed that between 14 percent and 25 percent of the participants surveyed in 1994 still suffered from some form of LBP in 2002.

Fortunately, something can be done before LBP becomes a lifelong problem. For more information on how your chiropractor can help you and your children prevent LBP, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/backpain.html.

Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kyvik K. Is comorbidity in adolescence a predictor for adult low back pain? A prospective study of a young population. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2006;7(29).

Earaches: Take a Wait-and-See Approach

Doctors may start waiting before automatically filling out prescriptions every time a child shows up with a potential ear infection. A recent study by the American Medical Association shows that the wait-and-see prescription (WASP) approach could create a reduction in the overprescription of antibiotics.

The year-long trial was conducted on 283 children between the ages 6 and 12 who were randomly selected for either the WASP group or the control group, the latter of which was given a standard prescription that would expire in three days. The parents of children in the WASP group were also given prescriptions, but were told not to fill them unless their child did not show improvement within 48 hours.

In the WASP group, 62 percent of the parents did not fill the prescriptions, compared to 13 percent in the control group. The researchers concluded that the WASP approach could substantially reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics in children. For more information on the signs and symptoms of earaches, and how your chiropractor can help treat them naturally, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/earaches.html.

Spiro D, Tay K, Arnold D, et al. Wait-and-see prescription for the treatment of acute otitis media: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2006;296(10):1235-1241.

Yellow Veggies, Better Vision

Corn and squash may soon have a boost in sales because of a recent study in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers discovered that carotenoids (the components which give these vegetables their yellow appearance) may reduce the risk of age-related vision loss.

In a study performed at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, 1,787 women between the ages of 50 and 79 were recruited four to seven years after they initially participated in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Using the original study as a baseline, researchers evaluated the participants for the prevalence of vision loss. The risk of developing vision loss declined substantially in women who included a stable intake of carotenoids, specifically "lutein" and "zeaxanthin," in their diets.

Although the researchers feel it is necessary to conduct further studies on the subject, they also note that their findings constitute a good reason to add more vegetables to your diet. For more information on nutrition, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition/index.html. To find out more on other health problems associated with aging, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/aging.html.

Moeller S, Parekh N, Tinker L, et al. Associations between intermediate age-related macular degeneration and lutein and zeaxanthin in the carotenoids in age-related eye disease study (CAREDS). Archives of Opthamology, 2006;124(8):1082-1214.

Walnuts: Enemy of "Bad" Fats

That old, dusty nutcracker sitting in your attic might be working overtime soon. In a recent study by a team from Barcelonas Hospital Clinico, walnuts have been shown to have more health benefits than olive oil. The research suggests eating these shelled snacks at the end of a meal may help to cut the damage that fatty foods do to arteries.

The study participants were chosen for either having normal or moderately high cholesterol levels. All the members were given two high-fat salami and cheese meals a week apart. Five teaspoons of olive oil were added to one meal and eight shelled walnuts were added to the other.

Although the results of the tests performed after the meals showed that both the olive oil and the walnuts helped to reduce the inflammation and oxidation that leads to the hardening of arteries, the walnuts seemed to preserve the flexibility and elasticity of the arteries. To find out the benefits of a healthy diet ask your chiropractor, or visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition/index.html.

Resource: Cortes B, Nunez I, Cofan M, et al. Acute effects of high-fat meals enriched with walnuts or olive oil on postprandial endothelial function. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2006, 48(8):1666-1671.

Battle Against Childhood Obesity Has Two Fronts

The issue of obesity amongst children recently has become a hot topic in the news. Studies on the negative effects on later life and how to fix the problem now have flooded the minds of parents in the U.S. But studies are showing that exercise is not the only way to keep children fit.

A recent British study has concluded that although physical activity can significantly improve motor skills, it did not reduce the body mass index in the young study participants. At six- and 12-month intervals, the researchers tested the subjects and found no significant effect of the intervention on physical activity, sedentary behavior or body mass index.

The results also can be seen as an advertisement of an overall healthy lifestyle. The inclusion of a well-balanced diet, in addition to exercise, can help to get children into a healthy routine that can benefit them for the rest of their lives. For information on how to get your kids into caring for themselves and their bodies, ask your chiropractor, or visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics/index.html.

Resource: Reilly J, Kelly L, Montgomery C, et al. Physical activity to prevent obesity in young children: Cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.38979.623773.55

Onions and Curry Help in the Fight Against Colon Cancer

Two compounds found naturally in onions and curry may help protect people from colon cancer, suggests a recent study by a team from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Quercetin and curcumin may have "significant effects in patients with FAP," an inherited colorectal cancer syndrome characterized by the development of hundreds of colorectal polyps.

The researchers gave patients with a history of FAP a 480mg dose of curcumin and a 20mg dose of quercetin orally three times a day for six months. According to the researchers, although the amount of quercetin administered was comparable to a persons daily intake, the 480mg dose of curcumin was considered in excess of a normal daily amount. For this reason, the study suggested the use of supplements.

At the end of the study the patients had a 60 percent decrease in the number and size of their polyps. Although the researchers feel more studies need to be done, the results paint a positive picture. For more information on the benefits of adding vitamins and supplements to your diet, ask you chiropractor, or visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/nutrients.html.

Resource: Cruz-Correa M, Shoskes D, Sanchez P. Combination treatment with curcumin and quercetin of adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis. Clinical Gastroenterological and Hepatology. 2006;4(8):1035-1038.

Dr. James Bogash, D.C.
1830 S. Alma School Rd, Bldg 7, Ste 135, Mesa, AZ 85210
(Alma School Road, just south of the Superstition Freeway/Highway 60)
Chiropractic Health Care for Chandler, Mesa and Tempe Arizona
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