Do You Know the Risk Factors for Back Pain?

While the old saying goes that the only two sure things in life are death and taxes, back pain isn't far behind. The National Institutes of Health estimates that between 60 percent and 85 percent of all American adults experience back pain at some point in life, and that between 20 percent and 30 percent of the adult population suffers from back pain at any given time. Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to predict who will suffer back pain, when it will occur, and what factors are likely to cause the problem.

A recent study examined the records of more than 11,000 Canadian adults who reported no back problems in 1994-1995. At a follow-up interview two years later, the participants were asked whether they had been diagnosed by a health professional with any back problems.

Based on the follow-up interviews, women were slightly more likely (9 percent) than men (8.1 percent) to have suffered back pain in the past two years. In men, the significant factors leading to back pain were age (particularly between ages 45 and 64), height, activity patterns (especially heavy work), a lack of gardening or yard work, and chronic stress. Women who suffered back pain were more likely to be restricted to performing certain activities; have been diagnosed with arthritis or rheumatism; suffer from personal stress; and have a history of psychological trauma that occurred as a child or teenager.

If you fall into one of the risk categories mentioned above, now may be a particularly good time to schedule an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic. Your chiropractor can talk to you about ways to treat and prevent back pain, and provide suggestions that will keep you healthy, active and pain-free. To learn more about back pain click here.

Reference: Kopec JA, Sayre EC, Esdaile JM. Predictors of back pain in a general population cohort. Spine 2003:29(1), pp. 70-78.

Want to Save a Life? Exercise Some Restraint

Although many automobile accidents are unavoidable, most of them are survivable, provided a person has taken the necessary precaution of "buckling up" first - wearing a seat belt or strapping your child into a car seat. In rare instances, however, a person wearing the proper restraints can be injured or even killed when an unrestrained passenger in the same car careens forward, backward or sideways into the restrained person during a crash.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the effect an unrestrained person can have on the outcome of an otherwise "routine" automobile accident. In the study, researchers analyzed data on all car crashes on public roads in the U.S. between 1988 and 2000 that resulted in the death of at least one person, within 30 days of the accident. A variety of configurations were used in the analysis, including the number of occupants in the car, the sex and location of each occupant, seat position, whether an occupant was restrained, and whether the car was hit from the front, rear, or side.

Occupants who were restrained in the front seat of a car were 20 percent more likely to die with an unrestrained passenger behind them, compared to a restrained passenger. Similarly, a restrained passenger in the rear of the car was 22 percent more likely to be killed with an unrestrained occupant in front of them versus a restrained occupant. Similar results were seen in side-impact and angle crashes.

If the information above sounds confusing, the message isn't: If you want to increase your odds of surviving an automobile accident, make sure you - and everyone else who drives with you - use a seat belt, child-safety seat or other restraining device. It really could be a matter of life and death.

To learn more about general health and wellness click here.

Reference: Cummings P, Rivara FP. Car occupant death according to the restraint use of other occupants. A matched cohort study. Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 21, 2004;291(3), pp. 343-349.

Coronary Heart Disease in Women: Know the Risks

Traditionally, coronary heart disease (CHD) has been considered a disease that primarily affects men. Statistics indicate, however, that approximately 250,000 women die from CHD, and a 2002 study found that 28 percent of all women above age 50 die from coronary heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for women in that age group.

As with men, the reasons women develop CHD vary, but the most likely risk factors include hypertension, smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Women's Association examined these factors, and provided the following suggestions for lowering the risk of CHD:

• Maintain healthy blood pressure. Studies have found that women with high blood pressure have a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of CHD, but that even minor reductions in diastolic blood pressure can have a significant lower the risk of CHD. Among the best ways to reduce hypertension are lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity, reducing weight, and decreasing alcohol and salt intake.
  
  
• Quit smoking. To help female smokers fight their addiction to cigarettes, the researchers recommended using nicotine replacement products, and adding agents such as buproprion to reduce cravings. They also stressed the role of the health practitioner in providing counsel and support.
  
  
• Avoid excess weight gain/obesity. While there is no direct evidence that losing weight alone reduces the risk of CHD, weight loss does decrease blood pressure and may improve blood cholesterol levels, both of which are important factors for heart disease. As with smoking, the researchers noted that health care providers can affect their patients by providing information on diet and nutrition and encouraging them to adopt healthy eating habits.
  
  
• Exercise consistently. Dozens of studies have shown that a lack of exercise can increase the risk of a cardiovascular event, while regular exercise strengthens the heart and increases blood flow. Health care providers should encourage regular exercise as one of the best ways to lower the risk of CHD

While coronary heart disease is prevalent in the elderly female population, it's not inevitable. By living a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet and avoiding (or stopping) smoking, women can significantly lower their risk of CHD.

Your doctor of chiropractic can create a lifestyle plan that incorporates elements of the above factors, and will help reduce your chances of suffering a cardiovascular event. For additional information concerning women's health issues click here.

Reference: Hong S, Friedman J, Alt S. Modifiable risk factors for the primary prevention of heart disease in women. Journal of the American Medical Women's Association 2003;58(4), pp. 278-284.

The Perils of Prescription Medications

Each year, elderly people in the U.S. make almost 17 million outpatient visits, either to their doctor's office or to a local hospital. Many of these visits occur so that patients can either fill an existing prescription, or get a new prescription for medication. Unfortunately, elderly patients sometimes receive drugs included in the Beers Criteria. Also known as the "always avoid" list, the Beers Criteria contains approximately three dozen medications that can cause adverse side-effects when given to older people, ranging from memory problems to dizziness, falls and high blood pressure.

To see how often elderly people receive inappropriate medications, the author of this study reviewed more than 8,100 outpatient visits made by senior citizens to doctors' offices and hospitals between 1995 and 2000. The analysis showed that in 7.8 percent of the visits - nearly one in 12 - an elderly patient received one or more drugs from the "always avoid" list. Elderly women over age 65 were twice as likely to get an inappropriate prescription than elderly men, and the risk of getting an unsafe medication was higher for patients who took several medications compared to those who took fewer medications.

Receiving the wrong medication can have serious - even fatal - consequences. If you (or a family member) is above the age of 65 and on prescription medication, here are a few recommendations:

• Ask the doctor if he or she is aware of the Beers Criteria.
  
  
• Bring a list of drugs you (or your family member) is taking to each doctor.
  
  
• Before starting a new medication, talk to the doctor about possible side-effects.
  
  
• Also, before starting a new medication, ask about taking tests on memory, mood and balance, so that any changes can be monitored.
  
  

To learn more about senior health click here

Reference: Rauch Golding M. Inappropriate medication prescribing for elderly ambulatory care patients. Archives of Internal Medicine, Feb. 9, 2004;164(3), pp. 305-312.

Reducing Workplace Injuries Using Proper Ergonomics

Every year, almost a million people are forced to take time off from work due to repetitive motion injuries or overexertion. Many of these conditions are caused by poor ergonomics - in other words, the environment in which a person works isn't designed properly to reduce the risk of injury and maximize productivity.

In a recent study, office workers were selected to participate in one of three study groups. One group received an adjustable office chair and training in office ergonomics; the second group received training only; and the third group received the training only, but not until the end of the study period. Workers who received the adjustable chair and the training had lower average pain levels and fewer symptoms of injury during the course of the study than workers in the other two groups.

If you want to have healthy, productive employees, just training them in ergonomics won't do the trick. In addition to proper training, make sure your employees have equipment that is easy to use and can be adjusted to a variety of heights to accommodate their needs. And if you're an employee, make sure your boss provides adequate training and work equipment, including the appropriate chair, to keep you healthy, happy and productive. It's a win-win situation on both sides.

Talk to your doctor of chiropractic about the importance of proper ergonomics. For more information on the benefits of chiropractic click here.

Reference: Amick BC, Robertson MM, DeRango K, et al. Effect of office ergonomics intervention on reducing musculoskeletal symptoms. Spine 2003;28(24), pp2706-2711.

Can You Stomach That Much Salt?

Although the number of deaths caused by stomach cancer has dropped dramatically over the past decade, it's still one of the leading forms of cancer fatalities worldwide. According to recent data, the disease accounted for an estimated 776,000 deaths in 1996. One factor that may contribute to stomach cancer is salt, which can lead to a precancerous condition called atrophic gastritis.

In this study, researchers evaluated the impact of salt intake in more than 39,000 middle-aged Japanese men and women over an 11-year period. High salt intake was linked with an increased incidence of stomach cancer in both men and women. Men who consumed the most salt had twice the risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those who ate the least salt; the risk was less in woman, but still significant.

To reduce your risk of stomach cancer, avoid foods naturally high in salt, along with foods processed using high amounts of sodium. Your doctor of chiropractic can help coordinate a comprehensive wellness plan that includes plenty of nutritious foods and limits those with high sodium content.

Want to know more about nutrition? click here for information on vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and foods key to staying fit and healthy.

Reference: Tsugane S, Sasazuki S, Kobayashi M, et al. Salt and salted food intake and subsequent risk of gastric cancer among middle-aged Japanese men and women. British Journal of Cancer 2004;90, pp128-134.

Eliminating Low Back Pain: Just Another Walk in the Park

Low back pain (LBP) may be no picnic, but a new study suggests that something as simple as taking a walk in the park, or engaging in other common physical activities, can help LBP sufferers cope more effectively and reduce the amount of sick time needed to recover.

In a three-year observational study, 457 patients suffering from LBP and placed on sick leave from work were divided into an intervention and a control group. The intervention group received a clinical examination, doctor advice and information, and was encouraged to stay physically active, while the control group received an exam and other primary health care treatments.

At a six-month follow-up, patients from the intervention group were less likely to use bed rest, and more likely to stretch or walk to treat their LBP than the control group, and after 12 months, 68.4 percent of patients from the intervention group had returned to work, as opposed to 56.4 percent of patients from the control group. Researchers concluded that encouraging patients to resume physical activity soon after the onset of LBP, as well as offering further guidance and support during the examination process, reduces the number of sick days taken in association with the pain.

If you suffer from back pain, talk to a doctor of chiropractic about a treatment plan. To learn more about the benefits of chiropractic for managing LBP click here.

Reference: Hagen EM, Grasdal A, Eriksen HR. Does early intervention with a light mobilization program reduce long-term sick leave for low back pain: a 3-year follow-up study. Spine, Oct. 15, 2003;28(20), pp2309-2316.

Soft Drinks and School Kids Don't Mix

Despite the soft drink industry's insistence to the contrary, mounting evidence suggests that soft drink consumption, particularly by children, is a leading cause of childhood obesity. Up to 85 percent of all children enrolled in school consume at least one soft drink a day, and 20 percent consume a whopping four or more soft drinks daily.

To combat the increase of childhood obesity and subsequently improve the health of schoolchildren, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a policy statement outlining ways to reduce or eliminate the consumption of soft drinks in schools. Among the AAP's recommendations:

Pediatricians should work to eliminate sweetened drinks in schools, and promote healthy alternatives, such as real fruit and vegetable juices, water, and low-fat white or flavored milk.

Pediatricians should push for the creation of a nutrition advisory council at each school, composed of parents, school and community officials, food service groups and health care providers. This will help ensure that student health remains the foundation of a school's nutritional policy.

School districts should hold public hearings before deciding to sign any contract with a food or drink vendor. If a school district already has a soft drink contract in place, it should be modified so that it doesn't promote overconsumption by students.

The consumption of sweetened soft drinks in the classroom should be eliminated, as should any advertising that promotes soft drinks.

How can parents help? By making sure their children have limited access to soft drinks and sweetened beverages - at school and at home. Take those bottles of soda out of the refrigerator and replace them with 100% fruit juices, which have the vital nutrients growing kids need - and far less of the corn syrup, sugar and other empty calories found in sodas. They may complain a bit, but in the long run, they'll probably thank you for it.

To find out more about pediatric health click here.

Reference: American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on School Health. Policy Statement: Soft Drinks in Schools. Pediatrics January 2004;113(1), pp152-154.