Sugar "Bingeing" Could Affect Brain Development

Most of us enjoy a sugary, sweet snack occasionally, but we need to be aware that the hazards of sugar are not just to our waistlines.   

A 2008 study published by Princeton University scientist presented evidence demonstrating that sugar can be a very addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to many drugs of abuse.

The team has been studying signs of sugar addiction in rats for years and finding signs of increased intake and withdrawal, two of the components of addiction.

This study showed that rats eating large amounts of sugar when hungry, a phenomenon described as sugar-bingeing, undergo neurochemical changes in the brain that appear to mimic those produced by substances of abuse, including cocaine, morphine and nicotine. Sugar induces behavioral changes, too. "In certain models, sugar-bingeing causes long-lasting effects in the brain and increases the inclination to take other drugs of abuse, such as alcohol," the authors noted.

The researchers conducted the studies by restricting rats of their food while the rats slept and for four hours after waking. "It's a little bit like missing breakfast," the author said. "As a result, they quickly eat some chow and drink a lot of sugar water." (Bingeing)    “In this case they are bingeing on a 10 percent sucrose solution, which is like a soft drink."

Hungry rats that binge on sugar provoke a surge of dopamine(normal neurotransmitters) in their brains. After a month, the structure of the brains of these rats adapts to increased dopamine levels, showing fewer of a certain type of dopamine receptor than they used to have and more opioid receptors.  Sugar bingeing literally changed the structure of the brain and its chemical receptors of the rats.  These dopamine and opioid systems are involved in motivation and reward systems that control wanting and liking something.  Similar changes also are seen in the brains of rats on cocaine and heroin.

The researchers were able to produce signs of withdrawal in the lab animals by taking away their sugar supply.  The rats exhibited anxiety as a sign of withdrawal. The rats' teeth chattered, and the creatures were unwilling to venture forth into the open arm of their maze, during sugar withdrawal the rats were too anxious to explore.

Sugar bingeing can be seen in children and young adults, especially around holidays and could have far more significant effects, even on their development,  than previously thought if the laboratory models reflect the human response. 

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

Trampolines and backyard safety

We may find video clips of trampoline mishaps amusing, but we need to understand the potential risk that the backyard equipment presents.  The trampoline industry says sales of backyard trampolines have soared, with more than 1 million now sold every year.  

Jumping on a trampoline can cause serious spinal injuries, in particular injury of the cervical (neck) spine.  The risk of injury is so significant that Marc Rabinoff, a trampoline safety expert and professor in the Department of Human Performance and Sport at Metropolitan State College in Denver, labeled trampolines "quad machines", because they can make you a quadriplegic in four seconds.  

Trampoline jumping poses a high risk of injury for both children and adults. Falling off a trampoline or using a trampoline incorrectly can result in strains, sprains, fractures and other injuries, including potentially serious head and neck injuries. In 2011 alone, an estimated 98,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries; 82 percent were children under the age of 15. 

The risk of injury is so high that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says trampolines should never be used at home or in outdoor playgrounds. The AAP supports limited use of trampolines in supervised training programs, such as gymnastics and diving classes. Even then, strict safety guidelines must be followed.  Warnings on trampolines say no flips, no jumpers younger than 6 years of age, and only one jumper at a time, but those warnings are often ignored.  Jumping with more than one person on the trampoline is when most of the more serious injuries occur.  

Multiple jumpers on a trampoline can, at the least, cause less-skilled jumpers to be propelled at unplanned angles, resulting in collisions and misplaced landings.

A trampoline fracture is a fracture of the tibia (shin bone) occurring in children while jumping on a trampoline (or inflatable castle). This fracture was first described in medical literature in 1986.  The fracture occurs when a second, usually heavier individual causes the jumping surface to recoil upward as the unsuspecting victim is descending.  The excessive load of the recoil is thought to produce the characteristic fracture, which is most often seen in children 2 to 5 years of age. This fracture has also been observed when a child is jumping on a bunk-bed mattress and another child pushes up on the mattress from the bunk below. Fortunately, this injury is not particularly common; nonetheless, allowing kids of all ages and weights to jump together is not a good practice.

Even when adults are present there seems to be a lack of knowledge about this type of injury and little intervention by the adults.   I have seen at functions such as birthday parties where multiple children of varying sizes were jumping at once, especially on the popular blow-up play gyms people often rent for the day. 

The industry states that 50 percent of injuries can be avoided with netting, but they still sell trampolines without nets.  Moreover, a net does not protect participants from the recoil injuries that occur with multiple simultaneous users of different weights. Current guidelines are clear that more than one user on a trampoline at a time is a risk factor for serious injury; however, the majority of injuries still happen in this scenario. 

Be safe with your backyard, summer activities.  There is no substitute for common sense.

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

Children and Chiropractic Care: Birth to 18 Years

Chiropractic has been successfully caring for children for various conditions for over a millennium. The main issues are what conditions are cared for by chiropractors, what is the reported success rate and what is the incidence of side effects. Over time, research has started to catch up on what individual chiropractors have been realizing in their private practices and this article will outline the current state of the literature.

Conditions Cared For and Side Effects 2012 Report

The pediatric related conditions that were reported to be cared for by chiropractors were the following:

1. Musculoskeletal
   1. Joint pain
   2. Walking/crawling
   3. Neck pain
   4. Mid back pain
   5. Low back pain
2. Neurological
   1. Headaches
   2. Autism
   3. Balance
   4. Cerebral Palsy
   5. Movement Disorders
   6. ADD/ADHD
   7. Behavioral
   8. Crying/Irritability/Sleep
   9. Developmental
   10. Growing
   11. Cognitive
3. Gastrointestinal
   
   1. Colic
   2. Constipation
   3. Digestive
   4. Eating
   5. Drinking
   6. Reflux
   7. Hiatus hernia
   8. Bowel problems
4. Genitourinary
   1. Menstrual cramps
   2. Bed wetting
5. Immune
   1. Allergies
   2. Asthma
   3. Food intolerance
   4. Respiratory
   5. Eczema
   6. Skin rashes
6. Infections
   1. Ear infections
   2. Ear-nose-throat problems
   3. Common cold
   4. Flu     

As for side effects, "there was less than 1% of patients experiencing negative side effects and all of these adverse reactions to care were mild in nature; transient and required no medical care with serious complications. The typical reaction was transient crying."

"The incidence of adverse drug reactions among hospitalized children in the United States has not been well studied.....On the basis of [review] of 17 prospective studies conducted in the United States and Europe, the incidence of adverse drug reactions among hospitalized children was 9.5%, with severe reactions accounting for 12% of the total."    Comparatively speaking, chiropractic is a much safer choice than most alternative options.

The entire article can be found here. 

Fun in the Summertime Sun

In case you haven’t noticed, the summer weather is upon us and with it the risk of heat exposure as the humidity and heat indexes send the temps into the danger zone. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, excessive heat caused the deaths of 8,015 people between 1979 and 2003, the last year for which statistics are available. This tally was higher than those who lost their lives from hurricanes, lightning, floods, and earthquakes combined.

According to the American Heart Association, heart attack deaths peak not only in the winter, but in the heat of summer as well.

Overheating of the body can result in hyperthermia, a condition in which the body’s core becomes overheated.  Coupled with dehydration, this condition can result in an electrolyte imbalance and, as a result, people can go into cardiogenic shock. 

In cardiogenic shock, the heart becomes suddenly weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of body. “This can cause a multi-organ failure that can trigger a heart attack or sudden cardiac death,”  according to Dr. Crandall, chief of the cardiac transplant program at the world-renowned Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 

One of the biggest dangers of hot temperatures is dehydration. This loss in body fluid can also result in the life-threatening heartbeat irregularity known as atrial fibrillation.

Another danger is that extreme heat causes the blood vessels to widen, as the body attempts to rush blood to the surface in an attempt to cool down. This is especially dangerous for people who take common medications such as blood pressure drugs.  Many of these drugs increase the risk fainting in the heat.

Heat exhaustion, over heating of the body,  is strongly related to the heat index, which is a measurement of how hot you feel when the effects of relative humidity and air temperature are combined. A relative humidity of 60% or more hampers sweat evaporation, which hinders your body's ability to cool itself.

The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the heat index climbs to 90 degrees or more. So it's important -- especially during heat waves -- to pay attention to the reported heat index, and also to remember that the heat index is even higher when you are standing in full sunshine.

There are a number of factors that can make an individual more susceptible to heat exhaustion.  They include:

Age. Infants and children up to age 4, and adults over age 65, are particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people.

Health conditions. These include heart, lung, or kidney disease, obesity or underweight, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental illness, sickle cell trait, alcoholism, sunburn, and any conditions that cause fever.

Medications. These include diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, some heart and blood pressure medications, and medications for psychiatric conditions.

The most common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• confusion
• dark-colored urine (which indicates dehydration)
• dizziness
• fainting
• fatigue
• headache
• muscle cramps
• nausea
• pale skin
• profuse sweating
• rapid heartbeat

Cramping is usually among the first symptoms. Cramps usually occur in the arms, legs and stomach. If untreated, heat exhaustion occurs next, resulting in any number of symptoms from the above list.  If these symptoms are not addressed, the condition can progress to life-threatening heat stroke. 

One of the most important things to recognize about heat stroke, and other heat-related problems, is that for the most part these problems are avoidable with a bit of attention and common sense. 

Tips for being safe in hot weather: 

• Wear light fitting breathable clothing.

• Make sure you are well hydrated. Drink one to three cups of water before heading outside, and then continue drinking water at 20-minute intervals, even if you are not aware that you are thirsty.

• If you are on high blood pressure or heart medications, remember that you may feel the effects of heat more keenly and take extra precautions. Also ask your doctor if they need adjusting.

• Wear well-ventilated shoes and socks.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.

• Caffeinated drinks pull water out of the body so avoid them or drink them very sparingly.

• When walking or exercising in the heat; stick to shady areas when possible.

• Avoid the sun between noon and 3 p.m., when it’s the most intense.

• Make sure you protect your pets from the heat as well. 

So keep yourself safe as you enjoy the summer weather. 

Posture and Health; A Short Video

Here's a short, animated video on the inter-relationship of posture and health.  Thanks to Dr. Joseph Ventura, developer of PosturePro digital postural analysis software for making it possible.   We have used PosturePro for years in the practice and the information from it is unbelievable.

Numerous studies have shown the connection between poor postures and health problems.   We work everyday with individuals to help them correct spinal problems creating postural distortions and health concerns.  We also teach them how to prevent the development or re-occurrence of these types of problems to improve and reclaim their quality of life.

Contact our office if you would like to know how to get started on creating a healthier life.  Hope you enjoy the video.

The Benefits of Chiropractic Side Effects

When a patient comes to a chiropractic office for treatment of a stiff neck or low back pain, he or she may report a side effect.

In addition to relief of pain, there may also be lowered blood pressure, improvement of psoriasis, allergies, asthma, digestive problems  or other medical problems.  The patient may be surprised, but the chiropractor really isn’t.  Chiropractic doesn't treat specific maladies; however, with a revived nervous system, just about anything is possible. Even the relief of headaches and back pain.

The basic premise of chiropractic holds that the nervous system has profound effects all through the body, and that spinal adjustments, by improving function and balance to remove impingement and interference on the nerves help  the nervous system function normally.  Scientific journals often agree.  A study reported in the British journal Nature notes that tiny nerve endings in the skin can affect the immune function of certain skin cells.  The Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics published three studies which showed chiropractic adjustments lowered high blood pressure.  A Russian medical journal reported on the effectiveness of spinal adjustments for relief of abdominal pain syndromes.

Drug manufacturers are required to list the negative side effects of their products.  Chiropractic can’t list or promise the side effects of treatment, but if they occur, you can expect they will be positive.

The benefits of safe, drug free chiropractic care can be far reaching and often times amazing in conditions otherwise unresponsive to traditional care.  Doesn’t it make sense to check into the safe, conservative approach first?

The Importance of Posture

I get asked often about why we have such a focus on a person’s posture as we work with practice members and speak with individuals in public.  The reason being is that posture is a direct result of skeletal alignment and balance.  You might say that posture is  a low tech way of evaluating spinal alignment and balance.

Balanced, (proper) posture should present a straight line, parallel to the ground, if a line is created by connecting the two endpoints representing the right and left sides, typically the eyes (or top of ears), shoulders, hips, kneecaps and ankles.   In the side view of the individual a plumb line would pass from the ear canal downward through the center of the shoulder, through the hip joint, through the center of the knee joint to just in front of the ankle joint at approximately the highest part of the instep of the foot.  Any posture where one of these “landmarks” deviates away from the visualized line will create unnatural, unnecessary and detrimental stresses to every tissue of the body.  Theses stresses (compression, twisting, stretching, changes in chemistry) will affect the way that the tissue functions which will lead to pathology and symptoms and eventually tissue destruction.  The stresses from the forward leaning posture is the most detrimental.

Over the past dozen or so years, several studies have been published that demonstrated the importance of proper postural balance. A 1994 study appearing in American Journal of Pain Management found that “posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture…..it appears that homeostasis (healthy balance of systems) and autonomic regulation are intimately connected with posture.”(1)   Another study in 2005(2) found that the posture of carrying the head or body forward of the above mentioned plumb line found “All measures of health status showed significantly poorer scores as [the] plumb line deviation (forward lean) increased.”  Translated, this says that the greater the forward lean, the greater was the severity and occurrence of reported health problems.  Sleep apnea has also been associated with a forward head posture.(3) It has also been found that “Older men and women with hyperkyphotic (forward bent) posture have higher mortality (death) rates.”(4)

This is only 4 of the many studies, but their implications of poor posture on an individual’s health are great.  “Despite considerable evidence that posture affects physiology and function, the significant influence of posture on health is not addressed by most physicians.”(1)  So don’t think that since your medical doctor didn’t mention it that it shouldn’t be a concern.

It is due to these far reaching effects of posture on the individuals overall well being that dictates the necessity of not only looking at the pain pattern of our patients but also their overall posture and its potential effect on their future well being.

The individual may choose to only address the symptoms, but we believe that they should also be aware of circumstances that could jeopardize their future health and what can be done about them through chiropractic care.


Yours in health,

Dr. Heller


1.   Lennon J., Shealy C., Cady R., Matta W., Cox R., Simpson W. Postural and Respiratory Modulation of Autonomic Function, Pain, and Health. AJPM 1994; 4:36-39.
2.   Glassman, Steven D. MD; Bridwell, Keith MD; Dimar, John R. MD; Horton, William MD; Berven, Sigurd MD; Schwab, Frank MD  The Impact of Positive Sagittal Balance in Adult Spinal Deformity, Spine, Volume 30(18), September 15, 2005 pp. 2024-2029
3.   M. Murat Özbek, Keisuke Miyamoto, Alan A. Lowe and John A. Fleetham,  Natural head posture, upper airway morphology and obstructive sleep apnoea severity in adults,  European Journal of Orthodontics 20 (1998) 133–143.
4.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2004

Hello and Welcome

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to my blog site!  Glad you stopped by.  I have created this blog to help keep my current clientele, friends and my community abreast of topics and information that can help them make better choices regarding their health care and maintaining wellness.  Also from time to time you’ll probably see some personal announcements here, just to let you know what I’ve been upto at the office.

For more information on me or the office and what we have to offer please visit our main website.

Please stop back regularly to see whats news!

For your better health,
Dr. Russell Heller