Your Best Bet for Evaluating Back Pain

According to the National Institutes of Health, Americans spend approximately $50 billion a year on medical costs and remedies for low back pain. For many, these costs are an unwelcome but necessary financial burden; however, according to a recent study, people may be able to save money right at the pain evaluation phase - without sacrificing the quality of their health care.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to radiographs (X-rays) for the purpose of diagnosing low back pain. Three hundred eighty patients who had been ordered by a physician to have their low-back pain evaluated received either an MRI or an X-ray; outcomes for all participants were nearly identical, regardless of which type of diagnostic evaluation they recieved. The study also indicated that, on average, an MRI cost $321 more than an X-ray, and suggested that the use of MRI may offer little added benefit, and could even increase the number of unnecessary surgical interventions.

For chiropractors, X-rays are a standard method of imaging the spine and evaluating and diagnosing a variety of health problems, not the least of which is back pain. For those who think new always means better (particularly when it comes to health care), take heed of the results of this study - in this case, X-ray imaging is just as effective as (and less expensive than) MRI in finding out what's causing your back pain and getting you on the road to recovery.

Reference: Jarvik JG, Hollingworth W, Martin B, et al. Rapid magnetic resonance imaging vs. radiographs for patients with low back pain. Journal of the American Medical Association, June 4, 2003: Volume 289, Number 21, p.2810-18.

To learn more about the many benefits of regular chiropractic care, click here.

Take It Outside ... for Baby's Sake

What do asthma, ear infections, respiratory tract irritation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) have in common? They're all possible consequences of infant exposure to secondhand smoke.

A new study shows that the only way to truly protect infants from tobacco smoke is to ban it entirely from the home. Researchers from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom measured infant smoke exposure by testing the urine samples of infants living in homes where they were exposed to tobacco smoke. The study revealed that infants exposed to smoke had traces of cotinine, a smoking-related chemical, in their bloodstream; the higher the cotinine level, the greater the exposure. Various preventative measures used to protect infants from smoke exposure, including opening windows and not smoking in the same room, only resulted in a slight decrease in smoke exposure.

Now may be the time to kick your smoking habit altogether - if not for your own health, then for the health of your child. As this study indicates, the only way to prevent your baby from being exposed to the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke is to enact a 100 percent ban of smoking in your home. If you still aren't convinced, or don't have a child, remember, quitting smoking has many personal health benefits, including decreased blood pressure; improved circulation; decreased risk of heart attack and cancer; and an improved sense of taste and smell.

Before you take that next puff, think about the effects it will have on you and your child. If you can't quit on your own, your doctor can help get you on a program that will work for you.

Reference: Blackburn C, Spencer N, Bonas S, et al. Effect of strategies to reduce exposure of infants to environmental tobacco smoke in the home: cross-sectional survey. British Medical Journal, Aug. 2, 2003: Volume 327, pp.257.

To learn more about pediatric health click here.

Terminating Teen Obesity: Say "Hasta" to Pasta

According to the American Obesity Association, approximately 15 percent of children ages 12-19 are obese; moreover, the risk for developing type 2 diabetes becomes greater after puberty, according to a new study published in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. To determine the "effect of dietary composition on body weight and diabetes risk factors ... in adolescents," researchers studied 16 teens over a period of one year, comparing those who followed a low-carbohydrate eating plan to those on a low-fat diet.

According to the study, teens who decreased their daily carbohydrate intake lost significantly more weight than those who stuck to low-fat diets only. Furthermore, subjects in the low-carb group did not regain the weight for six to 12 months following the initial weight loss. Researchers noted that the low-carb plan also reduces blood sugar (glucose) levels more effectively than the low-fat alternative; insulin-resistance level increases were substantially less in the low-carb group than the low-fat group.

This is all positive news, although the researchers note that their findings are preliminary, and more research is needed. However, the important points to remember are that it's important that your child get on the road to health and wellness early, and you should always talk to your doctor before starting your child on any specialized eating plan for weight loss.

Reference: Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Sinclair KB, et al. A reduced glycemic-load diet in the treatment of adolescent obesity. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine August 2003: Volume 157, Number 8, pp.773-79.

For more information on the fundamentals of sound nutrition click here.

Is Your Heart in It?

Hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure, is a primary cause of heart attacks and strokes. Statistics show that approximately 50 million U.S. adults suffer from high blood pressure - 140/90 mm Hg or higher. In fact, statistics show that most people will develop hypertension at some point in their lives, since the risk increases with age.

However, it appears that making certain lifestyle changes can help combat the onset of high blood pressure. A study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that people who adopt various lifestyle changes, including losing weight; reducing sodium intake; increasing exercise; limiting alcohol intake; and consuming a reduced-fat diet - also known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), which is rich in fruits and vegetables; whole grains; poultry; fish; nuts; and low-fat dairy - can successfully lower their blood pressure.

Is it time for a change? If you're at high risk for (or already suffer from) hypertension, there's no better time than now. Talk to your chiropractor about simple lifestyle changes that can keep your blood pressure low and your spirits soaring!

Reference: Writing group of the PREMIER Collaborative Research Group. Effects of comprehensive lifestyle modification on blood pressure control. Journal of the American Medical Association, April 23/30, 2003: Volume 289, Number 16, pp.2083-2093.

Sticking Your Neck Out for Chiropractic

If this is your first visit to the chiropractor, here's just one example of what you've been missing: Manual therapy preserves the mobility - and money - of patients, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. An Amsterdam research team studied 183 patients with neck pain of at least two weeks' duration. Of the patients (18-70 years of age), 60 received manual therapy, 59 received physiotherapy, and 64 received treatment from a general practitioner (GP).

A higher percentage of patients in the manual therapy group reported "complete recovery" after seven weeks than either of the other two groups:

• Sixty-eight percent of the patients receiving manual therapy recovered
• Fifty-one percent of physiotherapy patients recovered.
• Thirty-six percent receiving care from the GP recovered

But that's not all: After six months, total treatment costs for patients assigned to the manual therapy group were only approximately one-third the total treatment costs of physiotherapy or general practitioner care:

• Manual therapy: $402
• Physiotherapy: $1,167
• General practitioner care: $1,241

Left untreated, neck problems can lead to significant, long-term disability. But take some relief in knowing that by correcting this problem using chiropractic, you're receiving the best care possible - and saving money at the same time!

Reference: Korthals-de Bos IBC, Hoving JL, van Tulder MW, et al. Cost effectiveness of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and general practitioner care for neck pain: economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal, April 26, 2003: Volume 326, pp. 911.

For more information on neck pain click here.

Workout, Baby, Workout!

Growing evidence suggests that simple exercises can help babies grow and stay healthy - even when administered in the first few weeks of life. Consider a recent study involving 24 infants; if the results are any indication, preventing bone-thinning ailments, such as osteopenia, may be as simple as providing flexion, extension and nurturing.

A team of Israeli researchers matched low-birth-weight infants of similar development (4-7 days after birth) and divided them into an exercise group and a control group of 12 infants apiece. Growth rate and characteristics of bones, such as strength, were measured at enrollment (during the first week of life) and at four weeks.

Infants in the exercise group received regular five-minute sessions of flexion and extension at various joints, five times a week for four weeks; infants in the control group received similar-length periods of holding and stroking, but without range-of-motion activity. Although physical activity did not appear to influence bone formation, bone density remained stable in the exercise group while decreasing significantly in the control group.

While this a very small sampling, and infants are not the easiest subjects to physically evaluate, results point to what many health care providers have been saying all along: Exercise - at whatever age and whatever amount - can positively impact a number of health conditions, including bone density. It's also important to note that flexion and extension are common techniques utilized by chiropractors in the clinical setting.

Reference: Litmanovitz I, Dolfin T, Friedland O, et al. Early physical activity intervention prevents decrease of bone strength in very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics July 2003: Volume 112, Number 1, pp.15-19.

To learn more about pediatric health click here.

Music Soothes More Than the Savage Beast

Research from the University of Hong Kong provides evidence that music soothes more than just the "savage beast," a quote attributed to William Congreve in the 1697 play "The Mourning Bride." If the researchers' findings are any indication, this quote could also refer to the recovery of brain injury patients.

The journal Neuropsychology describes a study of a group of 90 schoolchildren (6-15 years of age). Half received musical training in their school's string orchestra between one and five years' duration; the other half obtained no musical training. Verbal memory was tested by reading each subject a word list and checking to see how many words were remembered -10 minutes after the reading and 30 minutes after the reading. The same test was performed again, but with images replacing the words. Children with musical training recalled and retained significantly more words than those without the training.

As far as researcher Dr. Agnes Chan is concerned, the instrument or music type is not as material as the learning process in assisting verbal training. She feels this could be the basis of a new approach to helping those with memory loss after brain injury.

So, think twice before turning off that "noise," your children are listening to (or producing themselves). It may be hurting your ears, but it could also be helping them build better memories.

Reference: Ho YC, Cheung MC, Chan AS. Music training improves verbal but not visual memory: Cross-sectional and longitudinal explorations in children. S. Chan, Ph.D. Neuropsychology 2003: Volume 17, Number 3, pp.439-50.

Peanuts: The Right Type of Fat

Peanuts are the most widely consumed nut in the United States. Peanuts have been viewed as unhealthy in the past because of their high fat content, but recent research may be proving the critics wrong. Consider the results of this study published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition.

Research undertaken by Professor Richard Mattes, et al., of Purdue University, recruited 15 healthy adults for three trials: substitution of 500 calories of subjects' daily fat intake with 500 calories of peanuts; adding the same amount of peanuts to their daily intake; and allowing individuals to eat peanuts any way they chose. The results? Triglyceride levels (higher levels of which have been linked to heart disease) in the subjects were lowered drastically; in some cases, by as much as 24 percent. Perhaps the most appealing news is that research yielded "no significant change in body weight, despite adding 500 calories of peanuts a day for eight weeks."

The researchers concluded: "This particular study indicates it may be an appropriate health recommendation to include peanuts in the daily diet." These findings add to the evidence linking regular peanut consumption to heart health.

So eat those peanuts! They're available in a variety of forms, although you may want to choose the unsalted variety, since sodium is a fairly well-established risk factor for high blood pressure. Many health food stores also offer salt-free peanut butter or peanut butter that doesn't contain added sugar, preservatives, or anything else - just heart-healthy peanuts!

Reference: Alper CM, Mattes RD. Peanut consumption improves indices of cardiovascular disease risk in healthy adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2003: Volume 22, pp.133-141.

For more information on the fundamentals of sound nutrition click here.