Chronic Pain and Depression

Stress, disappointments, feelings of inadequacy are all common at this time of year and can lead to or add to depressions which are not uncommon this time of the year.   Feelings of depression can be more intense and disabling if accompanied by chronic pain.

Our friends at the American Chiropractic Association put together some information for recognizing and dealing with chronic pain.

Depression is thought to be 3 to 4 times more common in people with chronic pain than in the general population. In addition, 30 to 80% of people with chronic pain will have some type of depression. The combination of chronic pain and depression is often associated with greater disability than either depression or chronic pain alone.

Signs and Symptoms

Some of the common signs and symptoms of chronic pain include:

• Pain beyond 6 months after an injury
• Allodynia—pain from stimuli which are not normally painful and/or pain that occurs other than in the stimulated area
• Hyperpathia—increased pain from stimuli that are normally painful
• Hypersensation—being overly sensitive to pain

Signs of major clinical depression will occur daily for 2 weeks or more, and often include many of the following:

• A predominant feeling of sadness; feeling blue, hopeless, or irritable, often with crying spells
• Changes in appetite or weight (loss or gain) and/or sleep (too much or too little
• Poor concentration or memory
• Feeling restless or fatigued
• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, including sex
• Feeling of worthlessness and/or guilt

What is the treatment for chronic pain and depression?

The first step in coping with chronic pain is to determine its cause, if possible and addressing the problem.  Consult with your doctor of chirpractic, they are very knowledgeable and effective in helping control many types of chronic pains.  Aside from that:

• Stay active and do not avoid activities that cause pain simply because they cause pain. The amount and type of activity should be directed by your doctor, so that activities that might actually cause more harm are avoided.
• Relaxation training, hypnosis, biofeedback, and guided imagery, can help you cope with chronic pain. Cognitive therapy can also help patients recognize destructive patterns of emotion and behavior and help them modify or replace such behaviors and thoughts with more reasonable or supportive ones.
• Distraction (redirecting your attention away from chronic pain), imagery (going to your “happy place”), and dissociation (detaching yourself from the chronic pain) can be useful.
• Involving your family with your recovery may be quite helpful, according to recent scientific evidence.
   
   Stay well, be safe and enjoy the Holiday season with friends and family.
   
  For your better health,
  Dr. Heller
  
  
   
   

Holiday Guide for Back Care

The holidays can be stressful enough without being held back and coping with pain due to overuse. Here are some helpful hints from one of our friends to keep yourself in better health this season.

Holiday Guide for Back Care

http://www.onelifechiropractic.com/articles/a_1801.html

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As Mahatma Gandhi said "First they ignore you,...

Even Homer knows now!

As Mahatma Gandhi said "First they ignore you,...

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"Selling Sickness" - How Pharma-Medical industry Creates Customers

We are told almost daily that preventative actions is the most effective way of maintaining good health.  the problem is, in the pharmacol-medical industry, the definition of prevention has become perverted to mean early detection, not healthy living.  This is most likely the true reason for our run away health care costs in this country.  We focus on fixing problems rather than avoiding the problem in the first place.

In their new book "Selling Sickness:" authors Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, MD examine the tendency of the healthcare industry to ignore lifestyle-based primary prevention, focused on the three pillars of diet, exercise and stress management, and over the past generation, increase emphasis on mass screenings of asymptomatic populations for early signs of disease, and for markers (blood tests, radiologic findings) that might indicate an increased likelihood of disease in the future, thereby finding new customers for their products and services.

As a very interesting read, they explore how the industry creates or refines disorders for which their therapies can be used; how clinical trials are designed to maximumize appearance of benefits of the therapeutics/drugs being tested; direct to consumer disease awareness campaigns and how the FDA approval process relies on self interest research and pharmaceutical industry funding.

If you are truly interested in how the pharmaco-medical industry is using you and your family's health and well-being to line their pockets.

There is a great review of this book that can be found here.

More Than Just Relieving Pain

More Than Just Relieving Pain

Chiropractic is so much more than simply a means of relieving pain. Ultimately, the goal of receiving adjustments should be to restore the body to its natural state of optimal health.

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Let Life Go On Unhindered

“Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered.” Leo Tolstoy

Let Life Go On Unhindered

“Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself, it will do more than if you paralyze it by encumbering it with remedies.” Leo Tolstoy

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The Importance of Water and Proper Hydration

The First Lady has announced her new social campaign and is taking alot of heat for the simplicity of it.  While I do not agree with many of her ideals, I can give her a nod of approval on this one.  

For as simple as the concept sounds, it is a fact that most people DON'T drink enough water through the day. For many people, sufficient water intake can be one of the most important steps to improving their health and well-being.

Soda pop, coffee, juice, sports drinks just aren't the same.

So with this in mind I have dug through my archives to find an article which I wrote several years ago for a rodeo magazine when I was more active in the circuit caring for the participants.  The article is written specifically for the rodeo athlete but has valid points and information for all walks of life.

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Water and Your Physical Endurance.                           

By Dr. Russell Heller

As a competitor in the rodeo and rough stock sports, like any athlete, you constantly strive to maintain your endurance and top performance.

Water, and maintaining proper hydration, are an important step in doing this.  Anyone who has ever competed in the Midwest and southern climates during the summer and early autumn months can attest to the difficulty of maintaining body fluid levels (hydration) and avoiding dehydration.  

Most of us have come to take the sign of the dry mouth as a signal that the body needs water, at its also assumed that fluid levels are well regulated yet the symptoms of dry mouth are not noticed.  Dry mouth, however is one of the last outward signs of extreme dehydration.  Other signs to watch for are: persistent/recurring heartburn, stomach ache, headache and mental irritation.  Dehydration over a long period of time can lead to: recurring and/or chronic pain, low back pain and water retention (believe it or not).

                          

Water, for as simple as it is, is a very important part of us.  It makes up about 60% of the young males weight and 50% of a females.  Two-thirds of this water is found in our blood cells the rest is outside the cells and includes the plasma of the blood.  Proper hydration is important in regulating body temperature energy metabolism and cardiovascular stress.  Therefore, it has a vital role in maintaining athletic & physical performance.

So the question to answer is, How do we avoid dehydration?

·      Drink before you feel thirsty.  We must remember that the thirst mechanism is too inefficient and slow for proper hydration purposes.  By the time your body senses the need for water to maintain mineral balance, dehydration has already started.  An estimated proper level of water intake can be calculated at 50-75% of your body weight in ounces.  50% for sedentary people, 75% for active people.  Example:  An active 150 lb. person would require 112.5 oz of water per day (75% of body wt. in oz.)   Divide this by the number of hours you're awake to find your hourly water requirement; 112¸16= 7 oz./hr awake.     **During strenuous work an additional 16 oz. per day should be consumed plus an additional 16 oz. per day in dry climates.

·      Avoid caffeine.  While caffeine does have some properties that can enhance athletic performance, it also acts as a diuretic, causing your body to get rid of fluid instead of retain it.

·      Avoid high calorie drinks like sodas.  Even though they do contain large amounts of water, the large amounts of sugar in these drinks make the water more slowly absorbed.  Also many sodas contain caffeine.  Sports Drinks offer little benefit over water during the first 90 minutes of heavy activity,  after 90 minutes of strenuous activity they can facilitate the replacement of minerals and sugars.

·      Avoid regular use of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's) such as aspirin, ibuprophen, acetaminophen, etc.  Under tough conditions the kidney's need to function at 100%.  These drugs interfere with kidney function and can cause an excess loss of minerals in the urine and upset the electrolyte balance of the body which can be quite serious.

·      Avoid taking just water.  Especially during periods of heavy, extended labor.  To avoid diluting the mineral and electrolyte balances of the body we also need to replace the sodium lost through perspiration and glucose loss through physical activity.  Along with water, it's a good idea to snack on salty, high carbohydrate foods such as pretzels, snack crackers, tortilla chips, etc.

These recommendations can help prevent and avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke during the intense heat of the summer while competing; however, these points should also be kept in mind when working long hours, outdoors in the summer.  

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Enjoy the outdoors, enjoy your activities and be safe.

Yours for better health,

Dr. Heller

Breakfast: A Very Important Meal For Your Health

Skipping breakfast because you think that one less meal through the day will help you lose weight?  Well, you may want to rethink that.  The medical literature reports that roughly 10%-20% of Americans routinely skip breakfast whether for weight management or out of convenience.

A new report on a randomized trial finds that skipping breakfast can trigger a condition referred to as insulin resistance.  It was found that skipping breakfast triggered acute insulin resistance and elevated levels of free fatty acids in nine obese, non-diabetic women, compared with a day on which they ate breakfast.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas and released in the blood stream in response to sugars in the blood (glucose).  Glucose is obtained from nearly all the food we eat and serves as the fuel to produce energy for every tissue of the body.  The insulin is necessary for the glucose in the blood to enter the tissues, sort of like a key in a lock.  When the body develops resistance to insulin the body is then forced to dump more insulin into the blood stream in an attempt to "open up the tissues".  Ironically this excess insulin release tends to make the tissues even more resistant, and the cycle repeats itself over and over with each skipped breakfast. The situation is not much better with a breakfast that is high in refined carbohydrates (ie, breakfast cereals) and low in proteins. 

Insulin resistance is the forerunner of type 2 diabetes and a component of the disorder metabolic syndrome.  Elevated insulin levels in the blood have also been linked to a number of other health compromising conditions.

On the days of skipped breakfast indirect calorimetry measures showed decreased energy expenditure (difficulty burning calories) and a significantly reduced respiratory quotient (a measurement of basal metabolic rate), which indicates greater fat oxidation (LDL cholesterol production).

Just 1 day of missing breakfast could do this.  It is easy to see how skipping breakfast regularly over time may lead to further metabolic problems such as chronic insulin resistance and possible progression to type 2 diabetes.

It seems breakfast is an important meal of the day, maybe more so than originally thought.  It is important to eat a balanced breakfast containing a significant amount of quality protein such as eggs or yogurt.

For your better health,
Dr. Heller

Calcium Channel Blockers and Breast Cancer

More than 60 million Americans have high blood pressure (high BP), high BP is a major risk factor for a
heart attack or stroke.  This "disease", which is largely lifestyle in origin, is reaching epidemic proportions.

In past studies, calcium channel blockers have been shown to lower the risk of stroke, they have also been shown to produce an increased risk for heart attacks.


A new study indicates that women that use of calcium-channel blockers for 10 or more years had a  significantly higher risks, 2.5 times higher (250%), of both ductal breast cancer and lobular breast cancer. This connection did not vary much by the type of calcium-channel blocker used. In contrast, use of diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors were not associated with risk of breast cancer.  According to the National Cancer Institute more than 232,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year.

Cancer risks aside, calcium channel blockers still produce some mild side effects including constipation, allergic reactions, fluid retention, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and impotence (about 20% of users). More serious side effects include disturbances of heart rate or function, heart failure, and angina.

Examples of calcium-channel blockers include:

• amlodipine (Norvasc)
• diltiazem (Cardizem CD, Cartia, Dilacor Xr, Diltia Xt, Tiazac)
• felodipine (Plendil)
• lacidipine (Motens)
• lercanidipine (Zanidip)
• nicardipine (Cardene, Carden SR)
• nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL)
• nimodipine (Nimotop)
• nisoldipine (Sular)
• nitrendipine (Cardif, Nitrepin)
• verapamil (Calan, Covera-Hs, Isoptin, Verelan)

The Take Home Message

Although chemical intervention can effectively control blood pressure, the longer term risks associated with these drugs lead to other health concerns and complications.

So, what to do?  As I mentioned at the start of this article, high blood pressure is most often a result of lifestyle.  High blood pressure can respond nicely to conservative lifestyle changes.

These changes can include:

• Regular exercise/activity
• Weight management
• Nutritional supplementation:
• magnesium
• arginine
• and others
• Avoid NSAID's (over the counter pain relievers)
• Increase intake of antioxidant foods
• Reduce/stop smoking
• Relaxation practices
• Increasing intake of water (if there is no history of kidney disease)
• Chiropractic care to address postural problems that can compress the chest cavity

These are possible suggestions for natural control of your blood pressure.  Not all these possibilities are appropriate for everyone.  You should discuss these with a knowledgeable provider in natural therapies.  You should not stop your blood pressure medication without monitoring by your doctor.

For your better, long term, health,

Dr. Heller

Gardasil and Menopause in Teens

There are several reasons which we advise to explore, independently, the effects and safety of vaccines before making the commitment to vaccinate your children.   The most recent stories revolve around Gardasil.  Gardasil is a vaccine intended to protect young women against infection of the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is linked with the potential to trigger cervical cancer.  HPV is contracted through sexual contact with an infected person. 

Current guidelines recommend the vaccine for females 9 years of age and older.  In their stated effort to prevent cervical cancers, there was a push, in 2010, to put into the guidelines recommendations for boys to receive the vaccine and recently the push has been to vaccinate infants.  All this for and infection which is only transmissible through sexual contact.   Sounds more like a push for profits.

Numerous reports in recent years have surfaced regarding young women having severe immune reactions with in weeks and neurologic reactions and damage while in the doctor's office after receiving the injection.  It seems the latest tale of grief triggered by this product intended to save lives actually affects reproductive health of these young women.

Reports have been published in medical journals regarding the onset of menopause in women as young as 16 years of age.  The American Journal of Reproductive Immunology reported cases of cessation of menstruation due to destruction of the ovaries, the medical term is primary ovarian failure (basically a chemically induced hysterectomy).  

It seems that the Gardasil manufacturer did not conduct studies on ovarian effects of the vaccine or any studies regarding ongoing fertility effects.  Another example of the inadequacies of drug testing and reporting.

Once again, you need to research and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for yourself through outside and independent sources before submitting to vaccines for the safety of yourself or a loved one.

Look before you leap.

Yours for better health,
Dr. Heller

Proper Sitting For a Healthier Body

I see many patients through the weeks that complain of worsening problems with desk work.  I came across this graphic that can help those individuals and thought it good enough to get out to all my readers.  This is a very good graphic to keep in mind when working at a computer work station. The only thing they have ignored is the possible use of a cushion/wedge to help increase the angle of the hip.   With proper hip angles the "need" for a lumbar support is virtually eliminated.

For proper support of the low back we want the hip joint (located at the back corner of the side pocket seam) slightly higher than the middle of the knee joint. They show it being done with the seat adjustment, but I have found that in real life that is nearly impossible, due to the "popular" constructions of office chairs.

You, your family and friends can have access to more helpful information such as this by liking us on FaceBook at: David City Chiropractic and Acupuncture or visit our website at www.dcbetterhealth.com,  you can even join our mailing list to receive our free newsletter.    

Yours for better health,
Dr. Heller

Tylenol: The not so safe pain reliever

Even though we consider acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) a safe pain reliever for both children and adults it can be extremely dangerous and causes significant side effects.  Acetaminophen has been linked to over 100,000 calls to poison control centers; 50,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 deaths from liver failure each year.

The folks at GreenMedInfo.com have once again done a wonderful job of reviewing the problems and history of acetaminophen.  Below is the exerpted article.

Enjoy. 

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The Dangers of Tylenol: Is it Time for the FDA to Remove it From the Market?

www.greenmedinfo.com

Posted on:  Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 1:00 pm

Written By:  Dr. Michael Murray     

                                                            

photo from Wikicommons

Introduction

Most people consider acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) as being an extremely safe pain reliever for both children and adults. The reality is that it can be extremely dangerous and causes significant side effects. Each year acetaminophen causes over 100,000 calls to poison control centers; 50,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 deaths from liver failure. In addition, regular use of acetaminophen is linked to a higher likelihood of asthma, infertility, and hearing loss (especially in men under 50 years of age).

The FDA has done a poor job alerting the public to the dangers of acetaminophen. In my opinion, it is a drug that serves no real medical purpose in the 21^st century. Its use should be curtailed or even eliminated entirely.

Background Data

Acetaminophen is the only remaining member of the class of drugs known as "aniline analgesics" that is still on the market. The rest were discontinued long ago. Acetaminophen only blocks the feelings of pain and reduces fever, it exerts no significant anti-inflammatory action.

Acetaminophen is very hard on the liver and is known to reduce the liver's store of the important detoxifying aid and antioxidant glutathione. When acetaminophen is combined with alcoholic drinks or other compounds toxic to the liver including other medications, its negative effects on the liver are multiplied. It should definitely not be used in anyone with impaired liver function.

Acetaminophen is often the drug of choice in children to relieve fever. However, use for fever in the first year of life is associated with an increase in the incidence of asthma and other allergic symptoms later in childhood. Asthma appears to be another disease process that is influenced greatly by antioxidant mechanisms. Acetaminophen severely depletes glutathione levels not only in the liver, but presumably other tissues as well and should definitely not be used in people with asthma.

New Data

On August 1, 2013 the FDA released a notification on acetaminophen that it is now associated with rare, but severe and sometimes fatal skin reactions even at recommended dosages.

These skin reactions, known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) are associated with reddening of the skin, rash, blisters, and detachment of the upper surface of the skin. These reactions can occur at any time while acetaminophen is being taken – they can happen the first time it is used or after long-term use. Other drugs used to treat fever and pain/body aches (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) also carry the risk of causing serious skin reactions, which is already described in the warnings section of their drug labels.

The FDA's solution is that they will now require that a warning be added to the labels of prescription drug products containing acetaminophen to address the risk of serious skin reactions. FDA will also request that manufacturers of OTC acetaminophen drug products to add a warning about serious skin reactions to the product labels.

Comment

It just might be time to pull the plug on acetaminophen. Can you imagine if the side effects and risks associated with acetaminophen were associated with a dietary supplement? It would be yanked from the market immediately. The FDA needs to quit following a double standard and instead look after the public's best interest not only by calling for more warnings on labels, but also by pulling from the market outdated, potentially dangerous drugs especially those available over-the-counter.

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Here is one more reason to not cover the pain with medication and over-the-counter pain relievers.  To be truely healthy and avoid unnecessarly side effects visit your doctor of chiropractic to have those lingering aches and pains evaluated.  Through proper spinal care you may find the pain relievers are no longer necessary and you can confidently enjoy life again.

If you or a loved one is regularly taking acetaminophen or other pain reliever call our office to schedule a no cost, no obligation initial consultation to find out what we may be able to do to help you live life to the fullest.  

Yours for better health,

Dr. Heller

 

Reference

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm363041.htm