Head Toward Alternative Medicine

Many people suffer from chronic headache pain, despite a wide variety of treatment options. Those who find relief through drugs often must deal with negative side effects. Complementary and alternative medicines, or CAM therapies, are increasingly being considered by those who cannot find symptom relief elsewhere.

Seventy-three severe headache patients at an outpatient head/neck pain clinic in New York were recently interviewed about their knowledge, use, and opinions about CAM. Researchers found that 85% of the patients used some form of alternative therapy for their headaches, and 60% claimed the therapies benefited their pain. Nearly 90% of the sufferers thought some form of CAM treatment would be effective for headache pain. The following represent some of the most-used CAM therapies for headache, based on patient response:

• massage (42%);
• exercise (30%);
• acupuncture (19%);
• chiropractic (15%); and
• herbs (15%).

If you suffer from headaches or other conditions that don't respond adequately to standard medical care, consider some form of CAM therapy. Be careful, however, as not all forms of alternative therapy are proven safe or effective. Research any form of treatment before you consider using it, and ask your doctor of chiropractic about its validity.

Reference: Von Peter S, Ting W, Scrivani S, et al. Survey on the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with headache syndromes. Cephalagia 2002:22, pp. 395-400.

To learn more about head and neck pain click here.

An Aspirin a Day to Keep Cancer at Bay

The pancreas is an organ that performs two important functions: It produces juices for food digestion, and hormones for regulating energy storage and use in the body. Cancer of the pancreas is highly fatal, yet little is known about ways to avoid it. Aspirin is in a family of painkillers called NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen (e.g., Advil); studies have shown that taking these drugs may help prevent colon or other cancers.

In a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute spanning eight years, over 28,000 postmenopausal women were classified into five categories based on use of aspirin: never; less than once weekly; once a week; two-to-five times weekly; or six or more times weekly. Products containing aspirin were also considered, such as Bufferin, Anacin, or Excedrin.

Women taking aspirin or aspirin products at any frequency were 43% less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women who never took them. The more aspirin taken, the less likely women were to suffer from this form of cancer (women taking aspirin six or more times per week were 60% less likely to develop the cancer). Other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, were not shown to have protective effects against pancreatic cancer, however.

It's important to note that diabetes tripled pancreatic cancer risk in this study, and smoking cigarettes quadrupled risk. Before popping aspirin on a regular basis, talk to your doctor about the necessity of taking it. Even drugs considered "safe" can have negative side effects if taken for prolonged periods.

Reference: Anderson KE, Johnson TW, Lazovich D, et al. Association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002:94(15), pp. 1168-1171.

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Exercise Best for Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a severe form of long-term musculoskeletal pain, characterized by fatigue and tenderness at multiple locations. It has only been recognized as a medical condition for a few decades. The cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown, and medical treatment using painkilling drugs or antidepressants has been unsuccessful.

In a 12-week study published in the British Medical Journal, over 130 fibromyalgia patients performed either progressive aerobic exercises (on stationary bicycles and treadmills) or relaxation exercises (stretches and relaxation techniques) twice per week in one-hour sessions. Self-rated pain and "tender-point counts" at 18 sites were determined initially, at the end of treatment, and three and nine months after treatment. Tender points, or "trigger points," are locations on patients that produce a sharp pain if pushed on during an examination.

Exercise-group patients were twice as likely to rate themselves "much better" or "very much better" than relaxation group members, both at the end of the 12-week sessions and nine months after cessation of therapy. Patients in the exercise group also showed larger reductions in terms of the number of tender points.

Aerobic exercise is an inexpensive, effective treatment for fibromyalgia. Women, the elderly, and those with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus are at the highest risk for this condition. If you have symptoms similar to those listed above that have lasted at least three months, you may suffer from fibromyalgia.

Reference:Richards SCM, Scott DL. Prescribed exercise in people with fibromyalgia: Parallel group randomized controlled trial. British Medical Journal 2002:325, pp. 185-188.

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Longer Hours, Shorter Life

If you consistently work overtime, you're probably aware of the strain it can put on your health and family or social life. During Japan's economic boom in the 1980s, an increase in deaths related to long hours and less sleep was reported. Now a study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine may provide proof that overtime work and long hours lead to heart attacks.

To determine the relationship between hours worked, hours slept, and heart-attack risk in Japanese men, 40- to 79-year-olds who had suffered a heart attack were compared to men of the same age who had not. From 1996-1998, the men were interviewed to gather data on work and lifestyle factors.

Longer hours at work, less sleep at night, and fewer days off were all linked to a higher risk of heart attacks, with combinations of these factors and recent occurrences further increasing risk. Men who slept five hours or less per night at least two days each week had two-to-three times the risk for a heart attack compared to men sleeping more; men who worked over 60 hours per week doubled their risk for a heart attack, compared to those working 40 hours or less weekly.

If you regularly work long hours and lose sleep as a result, ask yourself: Is my career really worth it? Not only will overworking cause you to neglect your family or those close to you, it might shorten your life.

Reference:Liu Y, Tanaka H. Overtime work, insufficient sleep, and risk of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction in Japanese men. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002:59, pp. 447-451.

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Therapies Not Neck-and-Neck

Between 10-15% of people suffer from neck pain, which is most commonly seen in middle-aged individuals and women. Chiropractors often provide a form of manual therapy called "mobilization," in addition to cervical adjustments, intended to increase neck flexibility and reduce pain.

In a recent study from the Netherlands, 183 patients with neck pain lasting at least two weeks were divided into three groups and received either manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care from a general practitioner. Manual therapy involved weekly "hands-on" techniques in which the therapist sought to decrease restrictions in neck range of motion; physical therapy focused primarily on exercise in 30-minute sessions twice per week; and general practitioner care involved advice on recovery, self-care, and ergonomics.

After seven weeks of treatment, the success rate was nearly twice as high in the manual therapy group as in the group receiving care from a general practitioner. The recovery rates were 68%, 51%, and 36% for the manual therapy, physical therapy, and general care groups, respectively. The manual therapy patients had half the absences from work due to pain during the study as the other two groups. Also, manual therapy proved better than physical therapy in all outcome measures in this study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The fundamental objective of manual therapy is restoration of normal joint motion. This goal was attained in the study, with a "relatively large" increase in neck range of motion. If you are suffering from neck pain, your chiropractor can treat your symptoms with manual therapy, adjustments, and neck exercises to address not just the pain, but also range of motion and strength.

Reference: Hoving JL, Koes BW, de Vet HCW, et al. Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. Annals of Internal Medicine 2002:136(10), pp. 713-722.

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Washing to Wellness

One of the best methods for avoiding the spread of germs and infections is handwashing. Yet handwashing rates in schools are low: Research has indicated that only a quarter of middle- and high-school girls wash their hands with soap after visiting the bathroom; less than 10% of boys appear to do the same.

The purpose of a recent study in the American Journal of Infection Control was to evaluate the effectiveness of a handwashing campaign on absenteeism rates in five elementary schools. Two "test" classrooms and two "control" classrooms were included from each school. Only test classrooms completed a one-hour educational class on germ-spreading and handwashing techniques and received a supply of hand sanitizer. Data on absences for nearly 300 children were tallied over three months.

Children using the hand sanitizer were 50% less likely to be absent than children who did not receive sanitizer and handwashing education. Also, absences were decreased in 23 of 27 months for the handwashing groups. Researchers estimated that the handwashing education saved each school approximately $24,000 per year in the form of time saved by teachers (preparing take-home and remedial work).

Schools, similar to hospitals, are areas prone to the transmission of microorganisms because of the high number of people in a small area and the sharing of objects. Teach your children about the importance of handwashing, and provide them the means to do so to reduce their number of sick days this year.

Reference: Guinan M, McGuckin M, Ali Y. The effect of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary schools. American Journal of Infection Control 2002:30(4), pp. 217-220.

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"Benching" Bad for Backs

In sports like basketball, football, and volleyball, it is common practice to have resting or "second-string" players sit on the bench during a game. Yet long periods of sitting can cause low back pain, and unsupported sitting on a bench results in hunching over, which may shift the spinal ligaments and discs out of place and reduce stability. Athletes who warm up for play and then sit on the bench prior to play may therefore have an increased risk for injury.

Nine male volleyball players were measured for lower back stiffness initially; after a 30-minute warm-up period; and again after 30 minutes of bench rest (post-warm-up). Stiffness was measured for forward, side, and backward bends and twisting in this recent study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

On average, bench rest following warm-up led to increased lower back stiffness. Increased stiffness was present in side and backward bending. Surprisingly, warm-up had neither positive nor negative effects on spine stiffness, however.

The common practice of sitting second-string volleyball players on the bench after warm-up exercises for prolonged periods, then later sending them into the game, may increase the likelihood of spinal stiffness and back injury. These results may even apply to other sports that involve "benching" players. Players should always continue moving to keep their muscles warm prior to play. Your doctor of chiropractic can provide you with more tips on preventing back problems.

Reference: Green JP, Grenier SG, McGill SM. Low-back stiffness is altered with warm-up and bench rest: Implications for athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2002:34(7), pp. 1076-1081.

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Take Salt with a Grain of This

Americans love their salty foods. From potato chips and popcorn to canned and frozen foods, the flavor and long shelf life of high-sodium foods makes them popular items. At the same time, more Americans are dying from congestive heart failure (CHF); roughly 5 million people in the U.S. experience CHF annually.

The authors of this study in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared CHF cases in approximately 5,000 normal-weight and 5,000 overweight individuals. Up until 21 years after an initial diet questionnaire, CHF cases were recorded and classified based on sodium intake.

Overweight individuals in the highest sodium intake category (approximately 4,300 milligrams/day or more) were 43% more likely to suffer CHF than overweight individuals with the lowest intakes (approx. 1,900 mg/day or less). Sodium intake was not linked to CHF in normal-weight persons, however.

An intake of less than 2,400 mg/day of sodium is recommended by several government health agencies, because high sodium intake can also increase hypertension and cardiovascular disease risks. Try to eat fresh foods and prepare your own meals, as prepackaged foods are often loaded with sodium. Start reading labels on pre-prepared meals, too - you might be shocked at how much sodium you're already eating!

Reference: He J, Ogden LG, Bazzano LA, et al. Dietary sodium intake and incidence of congestive heart failure in overweight U.S. men and women. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002:162(14), pp. 1619-1624.

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