"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.

Top 10 Signs of Spotting a Medical Quack

We hear a lot of warnings about medical quackery these days as the interest in complementary and alternative therapies rises.  Most of the finger pointing is toward the alternative care fields.  NaturalNews.com has an interesting point of view on what constitutes "Quackery".  The author has put together a list of 10 signs that a practicioner may be a quack.

If I might add, I think the author may have hit on some important points to consider.

Enjoy.

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013 by: Mike Bundrant

(NaturalNews) We've been brainwashed into believing medical quackery and this article offers the logical proof. As you read the following 10 signs, think through your interactions with your medical provider. Do more than one apply?

1. He prescribes medication without testing you for anything.

Doctors are big on scientific evidence. They demand that millions of dollars be poured into research to prove that things work.

Yet, when you visit their office, they often don't gather any verifiable evidence on what they are treating YOU for. Isn't that interesting?

You spend a few minutes with a guy who prescribes powerful medication to mess with your neurotransmitters. No tests - not even a questionnaire. You bring your kid in to a pediatrician and leave a few minutes later with powerful brain stimulants for ADHD - and the doc never did one test!

Quacks don't know of any tests for many of the conditions for which they regularly prescribe medication.

2. He tells you it's all in your head.

Telling you that your real symptoms are all in your head (translation: he thinks you are crazy) means that the answers are NOT in his head. When quacks don't have the answer, they don't consider that there is anything for them to learn. They just blame you. Nice.

A legitimate practitioner will admit when he doesn't know something and commit to finding solutions by expanding his knowledge, or working with other practitioners on your case who may shed fresh light on the subject.

3. He denies the role of lifestyle, nutrition and stress.

Eat the donuts, camp out on the couch, drink the booze...no problem. This has nothing to do with disease. Just take your pills.

Nowadays, some quacks are conceding that diet and lifestyle have something to do with the onset of disease, but they are STILL NOT TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IT. They never mention it. They don't ask you how you eat, sleep or manage stress.

It's because quacks don't know much about these things. When practitioners do not know much about the cause of 90% of disease - I call that a scam.

4. He'll put you on the medication roller coaster.

Some unfortunate folks, after dealing with a quack that doesn't know what he is doing, end up on 10-20 pharmaceutical medications and have lost touch with what it is like to feel normal. They live in a world of symptoms and side effects and - for some reason - keep going back for more.

The quack responds by continuing to dish it out, but he has NO IDEA how these medications are interacting with each other, really. He is just guessing and writing more prescriptions.

5. His own health is a mess.

Walk your talk. Does your doc do it? Is he an example of true health? If not, then he may not even know what genuine health feels like. How is he going to get you there?

Doctors are among the most stressed out and suicidal populations on earth. Bless them, for they maintain crazy schedules and are truly under duress. Still, it is no excuse. We are all stressed. Docs are supposed to be examples, are they not?

6. He doesn't involve you in your own treatment.

So, you heard that this or that lab test might be worth doing. You read an article or did some of your own research, huh? Is your doctor interested? Is he willing to consider that you may know something?

Quacks look down their nose at you, but real health practitioners will cooperate with you in your own treatment. They will investigate with you, consider your ideas, your feelings and work as a member of your team.

7. He believes you cannot heal, but treats you anyway.

You have a disease for which there is no cure. You will need to take these pills for the rest of your life. Please don't believe that nutrition, vitamins, herbs, God or anyone can heal you. You are stuck. Take your medicine.

Meanwhile, thousands of your fellow human beings are healing from the very symptoms that trouble you. You are dealing with a quack who will medicate you into oblivion and witness your inevitable decline according to his expectations.

8. His communication skills are pathetic.

You have six months to live. Nothing more we can do. There's the door.

Thanks for the compassion, doc.

9. He spends less than 10 minutes with you.

Recent research shows that new doctors are spending less time than ever with patients - an average of eight minutes per. This is NOT headed in the right direction folks! This is your health - the most precious gift you have. It needs time and attention and real expertise. Eight minutes is not enough.

New docs are quoted as saying, "We just don't have time."

Translation: "We don't have time if we are going to make a lot of money."

Money before patients = quackery.

10. He thinks he is God.

In spite of all the obvious signs of quackery, he still thinks he is all knowing. You still cannot connect with him as a person. He doesn't see you as a person. He won't take your ideas and suggestions, because you obviously don't know anything. After all, he is omniscient.

Stop supporting your quack and find real help. Do it intelligently. Begin to seek integrative and alternative practitioners who, according to the 10 signs, qualify as real health practitioners.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/040950_quackery_doctors_modern_medicine.html#ixzz2XQNgv4Ra

Mike Bundrant is co-founder of the iNLP Center and host of Mental Health Exposed, a Natural News Radio program.

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Remember, healthcare is about more than prescribing a pill to cover the symptoms.  You and your loved ones deserve more!

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

Military Recognizes Chiropractic for Back Pain

Patients with acute low back pain receiving a combination of chiropractic manipulative therapy and standard medical care experienced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in their back pain and improved physical functioning when compared to those receiving standard medical care alone, reports an article in the April 15 issue of Spine (CLICK HERE to access the online version).

The study followed 91 active-duty military personnel between the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

The study found:

• Disability scores were significantly improved in the standard medical care plus chiropractic manipulative therapy group than in the standard medical care only group at both week two and week four of the study.
• Pain Rating scores were significantly improved in the group that received chiropractic manipulative therapy when compared to standard medical care alone at both week two and week four.
• Overall improvement rating by participants as "pain completely gone, much better or moderately better", was 17 percent in the standard medical care only group compared to 73 percent of respondents when chiropractic manipulative therapy was included as part of their care.

"It is critical that we explore drug-less approaches to reduce pain," said Wayne B. Jonas, M.D., President and CEO of Samueli Institute. "Chiropractic manipulation is an important option to consider for musculoskeletal disorders, which is the most prevalent pain complaint in the military."

So even if your medical doctor is caring for your low back complaint, explore chiropractic.  You can vastly improve your odds and speed of recovery.  And maybe the best part.....no medication side effects.

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

New Year's Help For Smokers

Did you, a friend or family member make a New Year's resolution to improve your health?  Was one of those resolutions to quit smoking?  Well I want to pass along an interesting and hopefully helpful aid that I stumbled across. If this sounds of interest to you, keep reading.

Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said quitting smoking is one of the best things anyone can do to improve health.  

• Cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 deaths each year, including approximately 49,400 deaths due to exposure to secondhand smoke.
• 8.6 million people live with a serious illness caused by smoking.
• On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States, and 90% of lung cancer deaths among men and approximately 80% of lung cancer deaths among women are due to smoking.
• Smoking causes many other types of cancer, including cancers of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia.
• People who smoke are up to two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also causes most cases of chronic obstructive lung disease.
• Among youth who persist in smoking, a third will die prematurely from smoking.

Dr. Clancy noted that a new, comprehensive website available, gives one-stop access to the latest evidence-based methods on how to quit smoking.

The website — BeTobaccoFree.gov — has interactive features, mobile apps, tools and resources designed specifically for parents, educators and teens.

The site offers facts on smoking and second hand smoke, smokeless tobacco, educational/informational videos with former smokers and numerous tools under the "Quit Now" tab to help you or those you love;  all for FREE.       Click on this link to be taken to the website.

Best of luck on your New Year's health endeavors!

For your health,

Dr. Heller

What a Pain in the Neck!

Many people suffer from chronic neck pain. Some suffer from chronic lower back pain...and some, unfortunately, suffer from both! And...unfortunately, untreated neck pain can potentially cause far more damage than untreated back pain.

Neck pain can be experienced in two ways – as actual pain, like that caused by a disc problem, or as "pins and needles," numbness or weakness, making walking difficult, creating balance issues or neck stiffness. It may originate as a result of a whiplash injury due to an automobile accident, the aging process, stresses of everyday living, job-related repetitive movements, spinal tumor, compression of vertebrae, discs or nerves, or obesity.

<< Read more >>

Health: Its a Healing Thing

It can be difficult for individuals to understand why their recovery under chiropractic may require multiple visits over time.  They are used to going to the medical doctor and receiving a pill or an injection to combat the symptoms.  Very few prescription medications are intended to address the truly causative situation.  Even antibiotics, though they squelch the reproduction of illness causing bacteria, do not address the reason that the body has allowed the infecting agent to get a foot hold in the system in the first place.

Chiropractic care is aimed at correcting the underlying problem causing the decreased function of the body's systems which is causing the symptom(s).   It looks at the body as a whole; a group of systems that must work together in optimal function to maintain a healthy body.  This correction often times will require a period of healing,  like any healing process this simply takes time with the healing and return of improved function better.  True healing comes from within and can yield longer lasting improvements, better vitality and quality of life.

The chart below gives other examples of how organized medicine and chiropractic health care see the aspects of health care.

Chiropractic's Safety: Let's Look At The Facts

The other week while visiting with a patient during one of her appointments, she presented me with an article that her husband found in a past edition of the Reader’s Digest.  It was a short snippet from an internist (MD) in Michigan stating that he advised his patients that if they wanted to see a chiropractor that was fine “but don’t let them touch your neck”.  He states that this was because he has had a “number of patients over the years that have had strokes after chiropractic neck manipulations.”

I really found this amazing that he himself has seen “a number” of such patients.  Can significant complications occur? It seems that they can, according to case reviews.  Are they that common that one medical practitioner should see “a number of them”?  Statistically, no! 

Chiropractic adjustments (manipulation), even of the neck, is an extremely safe procedure when performed by a highly trained practitioner such as a doctor of chiropractic.  If it were not, malpractice liability premiums for doctors of chiropractic would not be among the lowest of all diagnostic level health providers.  This margin of safety is maintained due to the history of past health and of the current complaint which is done with each patient.  This is then followed up with screening tests for possible complications and possibly confirmatory x-ray or other special studies.  If the doctor of chiropractic practices “due diligence”, chiropractic care is extremely safe.  It can be much safer in fact than the use of  many over the counter remedies and pain relievers. 

A research paper published in 2001 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found 23 reported strokes over a 10 year period.  This is only a one in 5.85-million risk that a chiropractic neck adjustment will be associated with a subsequent stroke.  Other studies have placed the risk at 1 in 500,000 to 1 in one million visits resulting in a serious event requiring medical attention.  In contrast, a statistical review in the March 2000 issue of the journal Pain, authors calculated that 1 in 1,200 patients taking NSAIDs (Aspirin, Ibuprophen, Celebrex, Motrin, Toradol, Relefen, Aleve, Lodene and others) for at least 2 months will die from stomach and intestinal complications.   I often ask those inquiring about this subject if they know anyone, personally, who has been hospitalized after receiving a “routine” medical procedure or taking a prescribed medication.  The answer is almost 100% of the time YES.  In contrast I will ask them if they, personally, know someone that has been hospitalized due to a chiropractic adjustment.  The answer to that is almost 100% of the time NO.

In the February 2008 journal, Spine, researchers noted that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke following chiropractic treatment than they would after visiting their family doctor’s office.  The authors also noted that neck manipulation “is unlikely to be a major cause” of these rare stroke events.  It is doubtful whether a neck manipulation, as it is practiced by chiropractors, would have the force to damage healthy arteries. This seems to be supported by the significant number of patients who are treated without incident. 

This issue tends to creep into the media from time to time.  While it is an unfortunate complication that can happen, a handful of case and retrospective studies indicate that it is extremely rare and no more common that might be expected to happen with everyday life activities.  Routine daily activities that can create the situation which is proposed to cause strokes, such as sudden neck rotation and extension, these include over the shoulder checking while driving, sports, lifting, working overhead, falls, getting your hair washed at a salon, sneezing, and coughing.

To put the above mentioned risks into perspective let’s use the mid range number of 1 in 1,000,000 (that’s one million) figure.  We should consider that a review of risks which appeared in the September 1980 edition of JAMA found these “voluntary risks” in everyday activities:

Activity                                                   Risk of Death per Person per Year

Smoking: 20 cigarettes/day                               1 in 200

Drinking: 1 bottle of wine per day                       1 in 13,300

Football (Soccer)                                                1 in 25,500

Automobile driving (UK)                                      1 in 5,900

Motorcycling                                                        1 in 50  

Rock climbing                                                     1 in 7,150

Taking contraceptive pills                                    1 in 5,000

Power boating                                                     1 in 5,900

Skiing                                                                   1 in 430,000

Pregnancy (United Kingdom)                              1 in 4,350

 

Looking at the numbers above for many day to day activities performed without significant fear for one’s safety, we see that
chiropractic adjustment of the neck is considerably safer.  Considering the numerous benefits attributed to a balanced, properly functioning spine and nervous system, the minute risks posed to a properly evaluated and qualified patient in the chiropractic office should be considered more than acceptable.

Oh, returning to our Michigan, internist friend!  Extrapolating from the above study finding 23 cases in ten years, adjusting for a complication rate of 1 in 1,000,000, we could expect to see about 133 strokes per ten years.  This means that there would be about 13 cases of stroke per year, nation wide.  This internist evidently is either an ambulance chaser for such cases, practices in an area with some very sloppy chiropractors creating this “number of cases” in his area or he is simply exaggerating the truth.  But those are topics for other articles!

For your empowerment,

       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. 

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.