Sleep and Lose Weight

What if you could simply lose weight by getting more sleep, would you be interested? Well, new research indicates that this isn’t too far off. Researchers have found those who don’t get adequate sleep actually consume more calories than those who do. Researchers followed 12 healthy young men for two 48-hour sessions while recording their sleep, calorie consumption and activity level. They found those who got 4 hours of sleep versus 8 hours of sleep actually consumed 22 percent more calories. Thus, the lack of adequate sleep resulted in a significant increase in their caloric intake. Other studies have also found shorter sleep duration is associated with higher body mass index but this is the first to study the effects of sleep duration to calorie consumption in normal-weight individuals. Author: ChiroPlanet.com Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online March 31, 2010. Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2010

Spinal Surgery Costs Surge

Older patients with lower back pain are increasingly getting more complex and costlier spinal fusion surgeries, resulting in higher rates of life-threatening complications and increasing costs for the healthcare system, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. A study of records from the federal Medicare program for the elderly and disabled between 2002 and 2007 revealed a 15-fold increase in the rate of complex surgeries to treat spinal stenosis -- a common condition in the elderly in which the spinal canal narrows, causing pain in the back and legs. And while the number of overall procedures to treat this problem dipped during the period, hospital charges for those surgeries rose by 40 percent on an inflation-adjusted basis, Dr. Richard Deyo of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and his colleagues reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In a telephone interview Deyo said the trend in part is related to the introduction of new technology, such as spinal cages and special screws used to fuse vertebrae together. But it also reflects savvy marketing by orthopedic device makers such as Stryker Corp., Medtronic Inc. and Johnson & Johnson's DePuy unit, that has convinced surgeons more complex surgery is better, Deyo said. Studies, however, suggest complex spinal fusion surgeries offer little benefit over simpler procedures for most patients, and increase the risk of complications. "It is driving up the cost of care without much evidence that it is improving care," Deyo said. A study last year published in JAMA found that the cost of treating spine problems in the United States rose 65 percent in the past decade to $85.9 billion a year, rivaling the economic burden of treating cancer, which costs $89 billion. Yet, for all of the spending, they found people with spine problems actually felt worse. Deyo's team studied three specific surgical procedures for lumbar stenosis: decompression, in which part of the vertebrae is removed to ease pressure on nerve roots; simple fusion, in which one or two discs are fused together through an incision in the back or abdomen; and complex fusion, in which more than 3 vertebrae are treated or the surgery is done from both the back and front. Overall, the procedure rate fell 1.4 percent during the study period, but rates of complex fusion surgery increased from 1.3 per 100,000 patients to 19.9 per 100,000. "What happened was the most complex type of surgery increased 15-fold over that period of time, a far more rapid increase than we could explain just on the basis of more severe disease," Deyo said. "What we also found is these more complex operations are associated with a higher rate of serious complications." Patients in the study who had a complex fusion procedure had a nearly three times higher odds of a life-threatening complication compared with those who only got decompression. And overall hospital charges rose 40 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars, the team found. Dr. Eugene Carragee of the Stanford University School of Medicine in California said in a commentary that the study should remind patients, doctors and insurance companies to carefully weigh the options for spinal surgery. "... the efficacy of basic spinal techniques must be assessed carefully against the plethora of unproven but financially attractive alternatives," Carragee wrote, noting that "financial incentives and market forces do not favor this careful assessment before technologies are widely adopted." Author: Julie Steenhuysen Source: Reuters Health. April 7, 2010. Copyright: Reuters 2010 2010

Watch Food, Inc. Online through next Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Watch Food, Inc. Online

Food, Inc. will be streaming online in its entirety through next Thursday, April 29, 2010.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/photo_gallery_watch.php

Free Earth Day Shopping Bag While They Last

In celebration of Earth Day, my patients can come in and get a free WS&DC shopping/tote bag while they last.

No purchase necessary.

We're in the clinic Monday Wednesday and Friday

PS, This doesn't mean I believe in global warming
;-)

Manipulation Also Effective For Shoulder Problems

It’s no secret chiropractic care works wonders for many suffering from back, neck and spinal related problems. However, many are unaware that chiropractic care also provides excellent results in a number of non-spinal related conditions including those related to the extremities. Manipulative treatments chiropractors often apply to the spine are similarly used by chiropractors on the joints of the extremities including the hip, knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. Manipulation of these joints involves a safe, controlled and specific force that is skillfully applied in order to restore normal joint motion that in turn provides nutrients to the joint, reducing inflammation and pain. Researchers recently conducted a study to compare the outcomes of treating patients with shoulder complaints with usual care from a general practitioner (medical doctor) both with and without the additional care of manipulative therapy applied directly to the shoulder girdle. At 12 weeks after initiating care, those receiving the additional manipulative therapy had better outcomes related to shoulder pain, neck pain. At 26 weeks, those receiving the additional manipulative therapy had statistically superior outcomes in shoulder pain, shoulder mobility and mobility of the neck. If you’re suffering from extra-spinal problems such as problems with the legs, hips or arms, call our office for an appointment to see if safe, natural and effective chiropractic care might be the solution for you! Author: ChiroPlanet.com Source: JMPT. Volume 33, Issue 2, Pages 96-101 (February 2010). Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2010

EMBARRASSING MEDICAL EXAMS

EMBARRASSING MEDICAL EXAMS

1. A man comes into the ER and yells......
''My wife's going to have her baby in the cab.''
I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's

dress and began to take off her underwear.
Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs - - -
and I was in the wrong one.
Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald,
San Francisco
2. At the beginning of my shift
I placed a stethoscope on an elderly
and slightly deaf female patient's anterior chest wall.
''Big breaths,''. . . I instructed.....
''Yes, they used to be,'' replied the patient.
Submitted by Dr. Richard Byrnes,
Seattle , WA
3.. One day I had to be the bearer of bad
news when I told a wife that her husband had
died of a massive myocardial infarct.

Not more than five minutes later, I heard her
reporting to the rest of the family that he had
died of a 'massive internal fart.'
Submitted by Dr... Susan Steinberg

4. During a patient's two week follow-up
appointment with his cardiologist, he informed
me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with
one of his medications..
''Which one ?''. . . I asked. ''The patch....
The Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it !''
I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped
I wouldn't see.
Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body!
Now, the instructions include removal of
the old patch before applying a new one.
Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair,
Norfolk , VA
5. While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient,
I asked, ''How long have you been bedridden?''
After a look of complete confusion she answered . . .
''Why, not for about twenty years - when my husband was alive.''
Submitted by Dr. Steven Swanson-
Corvallis , OR
6. I was performing rounds at the
hospital one morning and while checking
up on a man I asked . . .''So how's your
breakfast this morning?'' ''It's very good
except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem
to get used to the taste.''..... Bob replied.
I then asked to see the jelly and Bob produced
a foil packet labeled 'KY Jelly.'
Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf,
Detroit
7. A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room
when a young woman with purple hair styled
into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety
of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing,
entered . . . It was quickly determined that
the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was
scheduled for immediate surgery. When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had
been dyed green and above it there was a
tattoo that read . . .''Keep off the grass.''
Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon
wrote a short note on the patient's dressing,
which said ''Sorry . . . had to mow the lawn.''
Submitted by RN no name

AND FINALLY!! ! . . . . . .. . ... . . . . . . .

8. As a new, young MD doing his residency in OB.
I was quite embarrassed when performing female
pelvic exams........ To cover my embarrassment
I had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly.
The middle-aged lady upon whom I was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing
and further embarrassing me.
I looked up from my work and sheepishly said.. . ....
"I'm sorry. Was I tickling you?''
She replied with tears running down
her cheeks from laughing so hard.....
''No doctor but the song you were whistling was.....
'I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener'

Manipulation Also Effective For Shoulder Problems

It’s no secret chiropractic care works wonders for many suffering from back, neck and spinal related problems. However, many are unaware that chiropractic care also provides excellent results in a number of non-spinal related conditions including those related to the extremities. Manipulative treatments chiropractors often apply to the spine are similarly used by chiropractors on the joints of the extremities including the hip, knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder joints. Manipulation of these joints involves a safe, controlled and specific force that is skillfully applied in order to restore normal joint motion that in turn provides nutrients to the joint, reducing inflammation and pain. Researchers recently conducted a study to compare the outcomes of treating patients with shoulder complaints with usual care from a general practitioner (medical doctor) both with and without the additional care of manipulative therapy applied directly to the shoulder girdle. At 12 weeks after initiating care, those receiving the additional manipulative therapy had better outcomes related to shoulder pain, neck pain. At 26 weeks, those receiving the additional manipulative therapy had statistically superior outcomes in shoulder pain, shoulder mobility and mobility of the neck. If you’re suffering from extra-spinal problems such as problems with the legs, hips or arms, call our office for an appointment to see if safe, natural and effective chiropractic care might be the solution for you! Author: ChiroPlanet.com Source: JMPT. Volume 33, Issue 2, Pages 96-101 (February 2010). Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2010

The cold, hard facts about omega-3 essential fatty acids

Over 19,000 scientific articles examine the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. For more than 20 years, researchers have conducted studies with over 10,000 people to see how omega-3s—namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—may help maintain health and prevent disease. And it really all began in the early 1970s when Danish researchers went to Greenland to discover how an Eskimo tribe eating a high fat/choleterol diet could still be so much healthier heartwise than those consuming a Western diet. The difference was healthy omega-3s from seafood. This also may explain why Japan and Iceland—where more marine fatty acids are consumed—enjoy extended health as well.

EPA/DHA consumption may be the key for healthy aging. The strongest evidence for EPA/DHA intake is for supporting heart health and reducing risk of serious cardiac events—and is recommended by the American Heart Association. EPA and DHA also have anti-inflammatory effects and may be suggested as adjunctive therapies for autoimmune disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis (to relieve joint stiffness/tenderness). These omega-3s have also demonstrated benefits in helping reduce age-related macular degeneration and dementia to promote healthy aging. And preliminary studies have shown promise in supporting a postive mood.


How much EPA/DHA is right for you? Depending on your health goals, concentrated doses of EPA and/or DHA may be recommended. And here, perhaps more than anywhere else, is where supplement quality really counts due to public warnings about consuming polluted marine life.


We can help you find the right EPA/DHA supplement for your needs. Please contact the office today to set up an appointment.


source: http://joshsube.meta-ehealth.com/site/login.jsp

Snow-Shoveling Safety Tips

The recent record cold weather and snow across much of the US has also seen a rise in articles advising people in areas of the country affected by snow, on how to safely remove snow when needed. Although much of the country rarely or never has to shovel snow, the tips from these articles can be applied to many similar activities.

One of two such articles appeared in the December 2009 issue of To Your Health magazine and the other on the NorthJersey.com local news website on January 6, 2010. The To Your Health article points out that the average shovel full of snow weighs about 5 to 10 pounds. They point out that the combination of bending, lifting, and twisting, along with the exposure to freezing weather conditions, can be stressful on the spine.

The two articles gave a list of helpful hints for proper snow shoveling to avoid spinal problems. These hints can not only be applied to snow shoveling, but also to many other similar activities. These include the following.

• Do a warm-up first. A tight, stiff body is asking for injury. 
• Layer your clothing. Layered clothing will keep your muscles warm and flexible. 
• Wear the right shoes. Choose shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on hard, frozen ground. 
• Use the right size shovel. Your shovel should be about chest high on you, allowing you to keep your back straight when lifting. 
• Drink lots of water. Drinking water frequently throughout the day helps to keep muscles and body hydrated. 
• Use proper posture. When you do shovel, bend your knees and keep your back straight while lifting with your legs. Push the snow straight ahead; don't try to throw it. 
• Take your time. Working too hard, too fast is an easy way to strain muscles. Take frequent breaks. 
• See your chiropractor. Gentle spinal manipulation will help keep your back flexible and minimize the chance for injury. If you do overdo it, your chiropractor can help you feel better and prevent more injury. 

From: http://www.dimartinochiropractic.com/templates20/article/1969.html