Turning Your Head Could Become a Pain in the Neck

Studies have shown that approximately 70 percent of people are afflicted with some form of neck pain at some point in their lives; 5 percent to 10 percent suffer neck pain that is debilitating. However, the symptoms associated with "nonspecific" neck pain - pain not associated with injury, disorder, or tissue degeneration - have not been studied extensively.

In a recent study in the journal Spine, researchers examined 40 adults, ages 19-42, with no prior neck injuries or treatment, to study the structural composition of the neck and its relation to pain. Volunteers were tested for neck-muscle endurance, range of motion, and extension, and questioned about their history of recurrent neck pain or discomfort.

More than one in three (35%) of the study participants reported experiencing neck pain/discomfort weekly or more frequently, with duration of symptoms lasting from 30 minutes to 48 hours per occurrence. In these subjects, neck muscle endurance, neck extension and range of motion were significantly reduced compared to the remaining 26 subjects - those without reported neck pain.

The bottom line, according to the authors, is that physical limitations involving neck movement and endurance may be early signs of neck pain. Before any of that happens, make an appointment with an expert in preventing and managing musculoskeletal pain and associated limitations - a doctor of chiropractic.

To learn more about musculoskeletal conditions and the benefits chiropractic can provide click here.

Reference: Lee H, Nicholson LL, Adams RD. Cervical range of motion associations with subclinical neck pain. Spine, Jan. 1, 2004:29(1), pp33-40.

Are You Still Using Hormone Replacement Therapy?

For the past 20 years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) among postmenopausal women has steadily increased, but recent studies have determined that some combinations of hormone therapy drugs increase the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Has this new evidence had an affect on HRT use?

Interested in determining whether the use of hormone therapy declined following published evidence in July 2002 documenting its adverse health affects, researchers studied trends in HRT use among postmenopausal women from 1995 through July 2003, and found that obstetrician/gynecologists supplied over 70 percent of hormone therapy prescriptions. Hormone therapy use increased from 58 million in 1995 to 90 million in 1999, then stabilized through June 2002. However, following the July 2002 findings, prescriptions began steadily declining.

Based on this data, researchers projected that only 57 million women would use hormone replacement therapy in 2003 (less than the total users in 1995), and that even fewer would utilize the therapy in 2004.

Are you still using HRT? Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking hormone replacements, and investigate nonpharmaceutical options that may be just as effective -- and safer.

To learn more about women's health click here.

Reference: Hersh AL, Stefanick ML, Stafford RS. National use of postmenopausal hormone therapy: annual trends and response to recent evidence. Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 7, 2004;291(1), pp47-53.

Time for a Change

Think your fitness level doesn't affect your job performance? Think again! A recent study suggests that physically fit employees are more productive, have fewer absences and are more satisfied with the quality of their work than their less physically active counterparts.

Researchers surveyed 683 men and women to assess whether lifestyle-related health risks, including a lack of physical activity, poor cardiorespiratory fitness, and obesity, are linked to aspects of job performance, such as absenteeism, work performance and relationships with co-workers.

Physically active employees reported better work quality and overall job performance, and those with higher levels of physical fitness reported positively on the quantity of work performed, as well as a reduction in the amount of effort needed to complete the work. Researchers also found that work quantity increased as employee fitness levels increased.

Twenty-two percent of study participants were classified as obese, with 4.5 percent labeled "severely" obese. Obese employees reportedly had more difficulty getting along with co-workers, while severely obese employees reported a higher number of absences related to health. The study concluded that poor health related to lifestyle choices negatively impacts work performance.

If you suspect that your work performance is suffering because of an unhealthy lifestyle, talk to a doctor of chiropractic about getting back on track with some healthier choices. It could save your life and your job!

For more information on health and wellness click here

Reference: Pronk NP, Martinson B, Kessler RC, Beck AL, Simon GE, Wan P. The association between work performance and physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and obesity. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. January 2004;46(1), pp19-25.

A Spoonful of Cinnamon Helps the Blood Cholesterol Go Down

According to Mary Poppins, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way." A new report suggests that the equivalent of a spoonful of cinnamon a day can significantly lower blood sugar, cholesterol and lipid levels, which is most delightful news for people with - or at risk of developing - diabetes.

Sixty people with type 2 diabetes were divided into six groups; three groups received daily doses of cinnamon (1, 3 or 6 grams, respectively), while the other groups received placebo capsules containing wheat flour. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days, followed by a 20-day washout period. Blood glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels were all significantly lower in patients receiving cinnamon compared to those given a placebo.

While adding cinnamon to the diet won't cure a person with diabetes, it may help protect diabetic patients from some of the worst complications that arise from the condition, such as blurred vision, heart disease and kidney failure. There are a variety of ways cinnamon can be incorporated into a person's diet, such as adding it to coffee or cereal, or making a tea out of boiling water and cinnamon stick.

For more information on herbs click here.

Reference: Khan A, Safdar M, Muzaffar Ali Khan M, et al. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care December 2003;26, pp3215-3218.

Making Weight Loss a Priority:

Your Doctor of Chiropractic Can Help

By now, you've heard the grim statistics: More than half of all American adults are overweight and at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and more -- diseases responsible for approximately 300,000 deaths a year. The most unfortunate part? These deaths can be prevented.

For most people, weight loss is a highly personal issue that can be difficult to face, especially if one has a considerable amount of weight to lose. And with the dreary facts surrounding weight loss -- chiefly, horror stories suggesting that most people who do lose weight don't keep it off -- many people doubt their ability to shed pounds permanently.

A recent article on weight-loss strategies suggests that the most effective weight-loss programs include a multifaceted approach that includes diet and behavioral modifications, as well as increasing physical activity. Prospective dieters are encouraged to determine why they eat, as well as assess what they eat, and engage in regular physical activity; however, some people -- especially those who have suffered from lifelong obesity - may need additional motivation to get started. This is where your doctor of chiropractic can help.

If you need to lose weight but aren't sure where to begin, your chiropractor can help you develop a nutrition and exercise plan suitable to your needs, as well as offer support and encouragement during the weight-loss process. And remember, routine chiropractic treatments not only help maintain the body's structural alignment, they help relieve stress, promote emotional clarity and positively affect your overall health.

To learn more about the benefits of chiropractic click here.

Reference: Bartlett, SJ. Motivating patients toward weight loss. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, November 2003;31(11).

Ruling Out Penicillin for Childhood Sore Throat

You've heard the warnings: Over time, using antibiotics can build resistance to their infection-fighting properties, eventually rendering them useless as treatment options. Still, an increasing number of doctors continue to prescribe antibiotics even when no infection exists -- such as when symptoms are associated with the common cold, or when research demonstrates their ineffectiveness. Take as example a recent study that penicillin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, does not reduce the duration of acute sore throat symptoms.

Researchers studied 156 children, ages 4-15, with a sore throat for fewer than seven days and meeting at least two of four other criteria, including history of fever, absence of cough, swollen lymph nodes, or red or swollen tonsils. Participants received either penicillin for seven days; penicillin for three days, followed by placebo for four days; or placebo for seven days.

Results: The study found virtually no differences in terms of symptom duration in the three study groups, and that sore throat actually resolved 1.3 days later, on average, in the three-day penicillin group compared to the group receiving placebo only. The authors make their findings perfectly clear: "Treatment with penicillin for seven days failed to shorten the duration of sore throat, reduce non-attendance at school, or reduce recurrence of sore throat in the following six months." These results were maintained even in children diagnosed with the presence of group A streptococci (which can cause strep throat, among other complications).

The authors conclude that nearly all children in the Western world can be treated for sore throat safely without the use of penicillin; however, parents are still encouraged to seek a doctor's care to rule out more serious potential illnesses.

For more information on child illnesses click here.

Reference: Zwart S, Rovers MM, de Melker RA, et al. Penicillin for acute sore throat in children: randomized, double-blind trial. British Medical Journal (online), Dec. 6, 2003. www.bmj.com.

Vitamin D Deficiency May Contribute to Musculoskeletal Pain

Musculoskeletal pain, or pain that affects the bones and muscles in the body, is a common complaint among all segments of the population. Still, despite the high incidence and potential consequences of such pain, precise diagnosis and effective treatment are not always easily attained. What's more, extremely low levels of vitamin D (known as hypovitaminosis D) may be partly responsible for causing some musculoskeletal pain that goes undetected, which can often lead to more severe consequences, including softening of the bones.

In order to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain, researchers examined 150 patients (ages 10-65) with musculoskeletal pain who had no known health conditions that would decrease the production or absorption of vitamin D, or otherwise account for their pain.

The study found that 55 percent of individuals younger than age 55 had exceptionally high rates of vitamin D deficiency, while 28 percent of patients had severely deficient vitamin D levels. The deficiencies were similar for both men and women.

The moral of the story? Don't underestimate the role that vitamins and nutrition play in maintaining health and well being.

For more information on the benefits of vitamins click here.

Reference: Plotnikoff GA, Quigley JM. Prevalence of severe hypovitaminosis D in patients with persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2003;78, pp1463-70.

Beware the Sugary Goodness

The next time you reach for a soft drink or so-called "fruit" juice, consider this: A new study estimates that, on average, people consume up to 66 calories a day from sugar-laden beverage sources, and another 17 calories from other caloric sweeteners, such as sugar, high fructose corn syrup, maltose, dextrose and others.1

Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health in Chapel Hill examined data from the U.S. and countries around the world related to caloric sweetener consumption, including the role played by foods, urbanization and income. Worldwide, the study found a 74-calorie increase in the amount of sweetener consumed daily between 1962 and 2000, while data from the U.S. showed an 83-calorie increase -- 80 percent of which came from sugary beverages.

According to a report issued by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization, less than 10 percent of an individual's daily calories should come from sugar, which translates into roughly one can of soda -- and no other forms of sugar -- on a 1,500-calorie-per-day diet.2

What's your best bet when it comes to sugar consumption? Limit your soda intake altogether, and consume more whole grains, fruits and veggies, so you can enjoy an occasional sugary treat with less guilt and fewer health-related consequences.

For more on nutrition click here

References:

1. Popkin BM, Nielsen SJ. The sweetening of the world's diet. Journal of Obesity Research November 2003;11(1), pp325-1332.

2. Davis JL. Sugary foods making us fat. March 4, 2003. www.webmd.com.