The Future of Health Care

With all of the recent reports stressing the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, it was only a matter of time before research began exploring the role doctors of chiropractic could play as cost-effective primary care providers (PCPs).

A paper published recently in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) revealed that a managed-care network consisting of doctors of chiropractic as PCPs provided equivalent care and saved substantial costs, compared to care provided by medical doctors and osteopaths. The analysis found that chiropractors were not only able to diagnose and treat patients at a level nearly equal to medical doctors, but that those same patients were admitted to hospitals less frequently, spent less time in hospitals for care, underwent fewer surgeries, and used fewer pharmaceuticals than other health maintenance organization (HMO) patients, resulting in tremendous cost savings and high patient satisfaction.

This information serves as a glimpse into the future of health care - a future in which doctors of chiropractic will treat a larger range of patients using an integrative approach to medicine.

For more information on chiropractic click here.

Reference: Sarnat RL, Winterstein J. Clinical and cost outcomes of an integrative medicine IPA. JMPT June 2004;27:336-347.

Trash the Junk

If you're like most people, you take great care of your car: You have it serviced routinely, wash and wax it every weekend, and even fuel it with premium gasoline. After all, you want to get the most out of your investment. Yet, despite how much people care for their cars, they continue to neglect their own bodies by fueling on empty foods that do nothing to enhance performance.

A recent study published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Chemistry and Analysis evaluated the diets of approximately 5,000 adults; researchers found that almost one-third of the average U.S. diet consists of junk food. Topping the list were sweets, hamburgers, pizza and potato chips. According to lead researcher Gladys Block*, "Such healthy foods as vegetables and fruit make up only 10 percent of the caloric intake in the U.S. diet. A large proportion of Americans are undernourished in terms of vitamins and minerals."

Is it time for you to maximize the performance of your body - by far, your most valued investment? You can start by replacing sugary sweets, calorie-laden sodas, salty snacks and other junk food with smarter food choices, including whole grains, fruit, lean meat and vegetables. And don't be surprised when your "engine" starts running much more smoothly.

To learn more about the myriad benefits of healthy eating click here.

References: Block G, et al. Foods contributing to energy intake in the US: data from NHANES III and NHANES 1999-2000. Journal of Food Chemistry and Analysis June 2004;17:439-447.

*"Junk food one-third of U.S. diet, study finds." Reuters Health. June 2, 2004.

Suffering From Osteoarthritis Pain? Don't Count on Drugs to Help

Osteoarthritis is a painful and debilitating disease that causes the degeneration of the cartilage between joints. Once the cartilage is worn away, the joints rub against each other, causing tissue and bone damage, and with it, pain.

One standard mode of treatment has been the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), administered in both oral and topical form; however, a recent study found that topical NSAIDS for osteoarthritis are only beneficial for up to two weeks. British researchers examined a dozen clinical trials comparing topical NSAIDS with placebo or oral NSAIDS. According to the evidence, topical NSAIDS were more effective than placebo in relieving pain for the first two weeks of treatment, after which time they became virtually ineffective. Moreover, topical NSAIDS were less effective than oral NSAIDS during the first week of treatment; however, other studies have shown that oral anti-inflammatory drugs can have adverse side-effects when used over long periods of time, including upset stomach and ulcer.

If you suffer from osteoarthritis, regular chiropractic treatments can help manage your pain and discomfort - without the uncomfortable and potentially dangerous side-effects often associated with drugs.

For more information on general health click here

Reality TV vs. the Reality of TV

With gimmicks like "reality TV" and catchy slogans such as "Must See TV," it's no wonder kids spend more time in front of the tube than in school.* Yet, numerous studies have shown that excessive television watching in childhood can lead to attention and behavioral problems later on. Now, viewers can add sleep difficulties to that growing lineup of television-viewing troubles.

Researchers studied a sample of 750 mothers and their children at different stages of development to assess the television and sleeping habits of the children. Adolescents who watched three or more hours of television a day were at increased risk for developing sleeping difficulties as young adults; the risk was significantly lower in those whose viewing habits decreased to one hour a day or less.

Parents: turn off the "idiot box," and encourage your kids to engage in other activities, such as reading or playing outdoors. Better yet, why not set the example? Get off the couch, join your kids in a fun activity, and enjoy the reality of family, rather than reality TV.

For more on pediatric health, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics.

Reference:Johnson JG, Cohen P, Kasen S, et al. Association between television viewing and sleep problems

during adolescence and early adulthood. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:562-568.

*Sege and Dietz, 1994. click here.

The High Price of Migraines

If you've ever experienced a migraine, you know how debilitating they can be. Migraines are generally characterized by extreme pain and pressure, usually over one eye or concentrated on one side of the head, and sometimes accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light. An episode can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, and render a person incapable of performing even the most simple daily tasks.

Still, the price one pays for having a migraine is not always limited to physical pain; according to a recent study, fiscal pain can be an unfortunate consequence, since these headaches often result in multiple trips to the doctor and missed days of work or school. Researchers studied the health care costs of families and employers of migraine sufferers and found that the costs for families with migraine sufferers was 70 percent higher than that of other families, and 90 percent higher if both a parent and child experienced migraine, while the migraine families spent an average of 5 percent more on pharmaceuticals than those families without migraine sufferers.

How can migraine patients combat the rising cost of health care, as well as find relief for the pain? The authors suggest taking more preventative approaches to care, including decreasing stress and caffeine intake, getting plenty of rest, and exercising regularly. And don't forget, routine chiropractic care can help prevent the onset of migraine, as well relieve migraine pain.

For more information on chiropractic, visit click here.

References: Stang PE, Crown WH, Bizier R, et al. The family impact and costs of migraine. American Journal of Managed Care May 2004:313-320.

Women: Here's One More Reason To Exercise

Ladies, still can't think of a valid reason to exercise? How about warding off breast cancer, which will be diagnosed in an estimated 200,000 women in the U.S. in 2004 alone? Researchers examined over 170 postmenopausal women for one year and found that those who engaged in consistent, moderate physical activity experienced a significant decrease in specific female hormones. This decrease - due largely to a reduction in body fat - in turn lowered their risk of developing breast cancer. Conversely, women that did not increase levels of physical activity experienced smaller declines or even increases in those same hormones.

Conclusion? "Exercise could lower breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women by reducing body fat and ultimately circulating estrogen concentrations," note the researchers, quoted by Reuters Health. Still, the authors note that the link between regular physical activity in postmenopausal women and lowered incidences of breast cancer remains a mystery. Regardless of whether you are postmenopausal, the benefits of exercise for women at every stage in life are undeniable.

For more information on women's health issues click here. To learn more about breast cancer and what you can do to avoid it, check out www.komen.org.

References

1. McTiernan Anne, Tworoger SS, Ulrich CM, et al. Effect of exercise on serum estrogens in

postmenopausal women. Cancer Research, April 15, 2004;64(8):2923-28.

2. Moderate exercise may cut breast cancer risk. Reuters Health. May 7, 2004.