Think Twice before Going under the Knife

Surgeons perform thousands of procedures each year in hospitals all across the country. In many instances, surgery may be the only option to save one's life -- but is it always necessary? With recent reports of the alarming (and increasing) percentage of adverse events associated with surgical procedures, you may want to think twice before going under the knife.

Case in point: a study in Spine that compared conservative care vs. surgery for the treatment of a specific type of spinal fracture (called a "burst fracture"). Eighty patients with a diagnosed burst fracture were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Patients in the nonoperative group wore a back brace for three months (at all times except when bathing) and stayed in hospital beds until their pain was "controlled." After three months, patients were allowed activities of daily living and light sedentary work. Patients in the operative group underwent surgery ("posterior fixation") and were evaluated two years later.

Results showed limited differences between the two groups in terms of long-term pain relief and improvement of overall function. The study authors also point out that surgery cost four times as much as conservative care, and recommend early activity "to the point of pain tolerance." If you or someone you know is considering surgery for back pain or other musculoskeletal problems, investigate the value of nonsurgical, conservative care by scheduling a consultation with your local doctor of chiropractic.

Reference: Shen W, Liu T, Shen Y. Nonoperative treatment versus posterior fixation for thoracolumbar junction burst fractures without neurologic deficit. Spine 2001: Vol. 26, No. 9, pp1038-45.

For additional information on back pain, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/backpain.html.

Too Much Juice

By age one, nearly 90% of all children in the U.S. drink some form of fruit juice. Although fruit juice is marketed as a healthy, natural source of vitamins and minerals, the potential drawbacks from regular juice consumption in early childhood are worthy of careful consideration.

This sentiment is echoed by the authors of a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics. The authors suggest that offering juice to infants, especially before solid foods are introduced into the diet, can result in deficiencies in protein, fat, vitamins and minerals found in breast milk. Also, prolonged exposure to the four major sugars found in most fruit juices (sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol) can contribute to early dental problems. In their conclusions, the authors emphasize a number of points for parents to consider:

Fruit juice offers little or no nutritional benefit for infants younger than six months, and no added benefits over whole fruit for infants older than six months and young children.

100% pure fruit juice or reconstituted juice can be a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet; however, fruit drinks (often containing 10% or less of actual juice and larger quantities of artificial sugar and/or flavor) are not nutritionally equivalent to fruit juice.

Juice is not considered appropriate in the management of dehydration or diarrhea.

Excessive juice consumption is associated with diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal distention and tooth decay.

Calcium-fortified juices provide a bioavailable source of calcium, but lack other important nutrients found in breast, formula or cow's milk.

Consult your team of health care professionals before, during and after pregnancy to ensure that your child grows up healthy and happy.

Reference: The American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition. The use and misuse of fruit juice in pediatrics. Pediatrics 2001: Vol. 107, No. 5, pp1210-13.

Stay Away from the "Andro"

"Andro" supplements contain androstenediol and androstenedione, the building blocks for the male hormone testosterone. Proponents of andro claim that it increases testosterone production, fueling corresponding increases in muscle growth and mass. Although andro is classified as a dietary supplement and is readily available on line and in many nutrition stores across the country, the Olympic Committee, the NCCA, the NFL, and the ATP have all banned the controversial substance.

You may remember the furor surrounding baseball slugger Mark McGuire's use of andro back in 1998. Critics wondered if the supplement gave him an unfair boost in his quest to beat Roger Maris' "unbeatable" home run record. Doubtful, say the authors of a literature review published in the Journal of Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation. According to the authors:

The literature does not support the claim that androstenedione or androstenediol can elevate testosterone levels, particularly at lower dosages.

A large quantity of research has found no performance enhancement benefits when taking recommended dosages of the substance.

Numerous side-effects have been attributed to andro supplementation, including increased levels of female hormones (estrogen); decreased high-density lipoproteins (the "good" cholesterol); and adiposity (increased fat retention).

Reference: Bradley-Popovich GE, Mohr CR. Androstenedione and adrostenediol in sport: a brief review of safety and efficacy. Journal of Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation 2001: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp20-25.

For information on natural supplementation, visit http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html.

Close Your Eyes, Open Your Mind

Since early childhood, we've been told that all kinds of bad things will happen if we don't get enough sleep. Scientists have long suspected that sleep (or lack thereof) influence learning and memory, but without substantial research to support the specific mechanisms behind such a connection.

In a study designed to test the hypothesis that brain pathways develop and strengthen during certain stages of sleep, researchers recorded the ability of cat brains to adapt/remodel when forced to see out of only one eye. Researchers noted twice the amount of brain changes in cats that slept for six hours after being deprived of light to one eye, compared with those kept awake in a dark room for the same time period. Additionally, cats allowed to sleep (both eyes closed) for the six hours experienced more brain changes than those kept awake and exposed to light.

What's this all mean? According to the authors of this study, their findings emphasize the importance of adequate sleep. They suggest that sleep, particularly in early life, may play a crucial role in brain development.

Reference: Frank M, Issa N, Stryker M. Sleep enhances plasticity in developing visual cortex. Neuron 2001: Vol. 30, No. 4, pp275-87.

Since early childhood, we've been told that all kinds of bad things will happen if we don't get enough sleep. Scientists have long suspected that sleep (or lack thereof) influence learning and memory, but without substantial research to support the specific mechanisms behind such a connection.

In a study designed to test the hypothesis that brain pathways develop and strengthen during certain stages of sleep, researchers recorded the ability of cat brains to adapt/remodel when forced to see out of only one eye. Researchers noted twice the amount of brain changes in cats that slept for six hours after being deprived of light to one eye, compared with those kept awake in a dark room for the same time period. Additionally, cats allowed to sleep (both eyes closed) for the six hours experienced more brain changes than those kept awake and exposed to light.

What's this all mean? According to the authors of this study, their findings emphasize the importance of adequate sleep. They suggest that sleep, particularly in early life, may play a crucial role in brain development.

Reference: Frank M, Issa N, Stryker M. Sleep enhances plasticity in developing visual cortex. Neuron 2001: Vol. 30, No. 4, pp275-87.

Dispelling Myths about Strength Training

In the past decade, the popularity of nutritional supplements has grown by leaps and bounds. The supplement craze has reached such a fever pitch that conventional supermarkets now carry many of the same products once reserved only for nutrition marts and health food stores.

Glucose and amino acid supplementation has been lauded by many in the bodybuilding world for its ability to increase muscle protein synthesis following resistance exercise. However, the mechanisms underlying this supposed action remain unsupported by the literature, including this study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Seven previously untrained men and women (average age: 23 years) trained on a leg-extension machine for 10 weeks - four sets of 10 repetitions, five days per week. Alternate legs were trained on successive days, and subjects ingested a supplement containing glucose, amino acids, or a neutral placebo on alternate days, immediately after training.

Although serum insulin concentration after supplement ingestion peaked at nine times the placebo level, no significant strength differences were noted between the supplement leg and the placebo leg. The authors suggest: "Athletes and others who wish to gain muscle strength may not benefit by supplementing their workouts in such a manner."

Reference: Williams A, Oord M, Sharma A, et al. Is glucose/amino acid supplementation after exercise an aid to strength training? British Journal of Sports Medicine 2001: Vol. 35, No. 10, pp109-113.

For more information on sports and fitness, go to http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/sports.html.

Vitamin C for the Skin

We've all heard about the benefits of vitamin C, and just about everyone knows where to find good sources of this important nutrient - look no further than the produce section at your local market. Oranges, grapefruit (and other citrus fruits), broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes and sweet peppers are a few of the many fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin C.

What you may not know is that vitamin C is also necessary in tissue growth and repair, suggesting its potential role in retarding skin damage and skin aging. Researchers evaluated this premise in a recent study published in the European Journal of Dermatology. Twenty female volunteers (aged 55-60 and suffering from photoaged skin on the neck) received a six-month application of topical vitamin C or placebo. Results showed a significant decrease in the wrinkles and deep furrows on the side of the neck treated with the vitamin C cream. This improvement was confirmed by patient self-assessment and by a dermatologist's clinical examination.

Your doctor can provide you with more information on minimizing skin damage, and on the many benefits of a well-balanced diet rich in the proper nutrients. For more information on vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals, visit http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html.

Reference: Humpert P. Topical vitamin C in the treatment of photoaged skin. European Journal of Dermatology 2001: Vol. 11, pp172-173.

Missing Work Because of Depression

Do you feel unhappy most of the time? Do you frequently get upset over little things? Do you frequently feel like crying? The answers to these and other seemingly simple questions can be important in diagnosing an all-too-common illness: depression.

Depression can be devastating to everyday life, including family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work. Employers have long coped with employee absenteeism, but a new study reveals that depression may be a substantial contributing factor.

The study used statistical analyses to evaluate more than 6,000 employees at three corporations. Workers exhibiting symptoms of depression were twice as likely to miss work (at least one missed workday in the previous four weeks) due to health reasons, compared with workers without depressive symptoms; decreased job performance was also seven times higher for depressed vs. nondepressed employees.

These findings emphasize that depressive disorders persist over time and can have a significant impact on workplace effectiveness.

Reference: Druss B, Schlesinger M, Allen H. Depressive symptoms, satisfaction with health care, and two-year work outcomes in an employed population. The American Journal of Psychiatry 2001: Vol. 158, No. 5, pp731-34.

Soy Protein for School Lunches

While strides have been made in recent years to improve the nutritional quality of cafeteria food provided to schoolchildren, there's still more work to be done. Pizza, French fries, tacos and friend chicken nuggets remain staples of the daily student diet; the majority of fat from these and other foods comes from meat, dairy and processed foods.

A study in the April 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Dietary Association investigated the effects of substituting meat with soy products, with the specific intention of evaluating the impact of such a substitution on the overall nutritional quality of school lunches. Meat content was reduced by 30% and replaced with soy protein in 132 elementary school lunch selections, including Sloppy Joes; lasagna; pizza; chicken enchiladas; and tuna and ham salad.

Results: With the exception of chicken entrees, kilocalories and average grams of total and saturated fat decreased in meat-only entrees (replaced with soy) than in entrees with fat from additional ingredients such as cheese or oil.

The authors note in their conclusion that soy protein can be a good way to improve the nutritional quality of school lunches, particularly those in which meat (pork, ground beef and ground turkey) is the primary source of fat.

Your doctor of chiropractic can help outline a nutritional and exercise program suitable to your family's needs. For additional information on nutrition, visit http://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html.

Reference: Thomas J, Lutz S. Soy protein lowers fat and saturated fat in school lunch beef and pork entrees. Journal of the American Dietary Association 2001: Vol. 110, No. 4, pp461-63.