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Cascade Wellness Clinic
Rick Allen, DC |
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Healthy Living Chiropractic Newsletter
July 2005
IndexWelcome to our office's Chiropractic newsletter. We'd like to entertain you, inform you (and even inspire you a little).
"You have to recognize that every 'out front' maneuver is going to be lonely. But if you feel entirely comfortable, then you're not far enough ahead to do any good. That warm sense of everything going well is usually the body temperature at the center of the herd. Only if you're far enough ahead to be at risk do you have a chance for large gains." – John Masters, Canadian oilman
"We know too much and feel too little. At least, we feel too little of those creative emotions from which a good life springs." – Bertrand Russell
This Issue:
We're in the Army (and Navy, Air Force and Marines) Now
Dr. Allen will be attending his nephew's graduation from Army boot camp July 27-30. Did you know that chiropractic care was recently added into the veterans health care system? Several key elements of Defense Secretary Principi's blueprint for inclusion are:
- Full-scope chiropractic care into all missions of the veteran's health care system, including patient care, education, research and response to disasters and national emergencies, and veterans' facilities across the country.
- Endorsement of a successful and patient-friendly model - essentially based on the operations of Bethesda National Naval Medical Center - of full integration of doctors of chiropractic as partners in health care teams.
- Inclusion of chiropractic care into the VA's funding of research into treatment of service-connected conditions.
- Inclusion of chiropractic colleges and students in training programs at VA facilities.
- Continuity of chiropractic care for newly discharged veterans who have been receiving chiropractic care through the Defense Department health care system.
We have a VA hospital in Portland which has referred patients to Dr. Allen. Do you know of someone who could benefit? Contact Dr. Allen to arrange a referral.
Chiropractic is good for your whole body
Chiropractic clinical reports reveal kidney function, bowel and bladder function, digestive organs, reproductive organs, heart and lungs – just about every organ and system – benefiting from adjustments. How can a spinal adjustment do that? It's all in your nerves. All your organs, glands, muscles and bones receive a nerve supply from your spine. This connection is essential for proper health. If this connection is interfered with your organs may not function properly and your health could be damaged.
If you have a subluxation – a misalignment of a spinal bone causing pressure on your nerves – then your internal organs, blood vessels, bones, muscles (really everything) won't function at 100%. That can mean pain, weakness, lack of energy, lowered resistance to disease and ultimately sickness.
What do to? Why, visit your chiropractor to have your spine checked for these health-destroying subluxations. If your chiropractor finds any subluxations in your spine, he/she will correct (adjust) them and you'll be free of this form of severe stress to your nervous system. Your entire body will benefit. PS. It really important for the very young and very old to have healthy spines, so bring in your children and your parents.
Fever is good for you
Fever is one of nature's most powerful infection fighting weapons. If it could be bottled and sold it would be a true "wonder drug." Perhaps equally important, studies show that interfering with (lowering) a fever with drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol™) or aspirin (antipyretics) keeps sick people sick longer.
In one study doctors gave half a group of patients with flu aspirin while the other half were permitted to have a fever. The aspirin group with lowered fever stayed sick 3 days longer!!! The paper concluded: "Antipyretics prolong illness in patients with Influenza... The duration of illness was significantly prolonged." (1)
Lowering fever increased the death rate in another study. Researchers reported: "There is no convincing evidence that naturally occurring fevers are harmful. In contrast, animal studies have shown that fever helps animals to survive an infection whereas antipyresis (lowering fever) increases mortality...there is considerable --evidence that --human immunological defenses function better at febrile temperatures than at normal ones." (2)
In other words, when you or your child has a fever they can better fight infection.
First watch this, and then read the SAD news below
http://www.storewars.org/flash/index.html
S.A.D. news (S.A.D. = standard American diet)
Statistics say that soda, French fries, potato chips, hamburgers and chocolate make up 70% of the American diet. The top 10 selling products in grocery stores are:
- Marlboro cigarettes
- Coke classic
- Kraft macaroni & cheese
- Pepsi
- Diet coke
- Budweiser beer
- Campbell's soup
- Tide detergent
- Folger's coffee
- Winston cigarettes
Is it any wonder Americans' health is so awful? To improve your health, you have to eat real foods: Unprocessed, natural and organic. The more life in the food, the more life it will give to you.
Parents are living longer than their children?
This is not good news. Partly as a result of the S.A.D. (above) and prescription and over-the-counter drug use (including and especially vaccinations), Americans' life expectancy is lower than many other developed countries. By the middle of this century the increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer is estimated to lower average life expectancy 5 years. Two-thirds of America's adults are overweight as are 30% of U.S. children. (3)Back pain – Chiropractic is most popular care
A survey of over 2,000 back and neck pain sufferers revealed that 54% of people reporting back and neck pain used complementary care with the most popular care being chiropractic. Only 37% of those surveyed consulted MDs. Chiropractic was rated as "very helpful" by 61% of patients as compared with 27% for those visiting a conventional provider (medical doctor/physical therapist). (4)
Back surgery = permanent chronic pain
One of America's most respected medical doctors has revealed a shocking discovery: "Vast majorities of people suffering from chronic pain were actually the result of unnecessary back surgery. In one study, I demonstrated that at least 80% of those who had lumbar surgery for a presumed ruptured disc had not had a ruptured disc before their first surgery. (5) "By the time they had between 5 and 7 unsuccessful back operations they certainly were invalids -- In selective patients with back pain, we have found two significant problems: locked or degenerative facet joints or a sacral shear." (6)
Chiropractic and Spinal Research
Do you know anyone living on drugs? They may have years of uncorrected subluxations in their body. Please tell them about chiropractic.
Childrens' health complaints and pelvic subluxations. 650 children aged 2 to 18 (327 boys and 323 girls) were analyzed by chiropractors. It was found that the children's health complaints were related to subluxations of their pelvic bones. The authors found that 96% of the children examined were found to have pelvic subluxations and the beginning of spinal degeneration.
The following conditions were found in the subluxated children: limb pain and numbness, low back and neck pain, "growing pains," sinus problems, headaches, dizziness, stomach problems, bed-wetting, constipation, diarrhea, asthma, breathing problems, fatigue, colic, croup and menstrual cramps. Behavioral concerns included ADHD, learning difficulties, temper, memory and sleeping problems; allergies, colds, ear infections, fever, acne, sore throats, strep and tonsillitis.The authors stressed that Chiropractic care should be started early so that abnormal joint function, disc stress and early degenerative changes can be corrected as soon as possible. (7)
Words of Wisdom
"The preservation of health is easier than the cure of disease."
– B.J. Palmer, DC"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched...but are felt in the heart."
– Helen Keller
Looking for a New Career? Consider Chiropractic!
The magazine Fast Company published its list of "The 25 Top Jobs for 2005." The top jobs were based upon four criteria: Job Growth Index, Salary Range Index, Education Index and Innovation Index. Number four on the list is: Chiropractor. Chiropractor had the highest score in the Education Index - 98.48, higher than medical scientist (98.28), biochemist/biophysicist (96.48); epidemiologist (98.28) and lawyer (98.37). Chiropractor also did well on the Salary Range Index with a score of 84.93. This fell below personal athlete (100); security sales agent (89.36); and financial advisor (87.95), but bested the remaining 21 jobs. (8)
Humor: From the minds of children
A first grade teacher gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb.
Better to be safe than.........................punch a 5th grader.
Strike while the ..............................bug is close.
It's always darkest before.....................Daylight Savings Time.
Never underestimate the power of...............termites.
You can lead a horse to water but..............how?
Don't bite the hand that.......................looks dirty.
No news is.....................................impossible.
A miss is as good as a.........................mister.
You can't teach an old dog new.................math.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll..............stink in the morning.
Love all, trust................................me.
The pen is mightier than the...................pigs.
An idle mind is................................the best way to relax.
Where there's smoke there's....................pollution.
Happy the bride who............................gets all the presents.
A penny saved is...............................not much.
Two's company, three's.........................the Musketeers.
Don't put off till tomorrow what...............you put on to go to bed.
Laugh and the whole world laughs
with you, cry and..........................you have to blow your nose.
There are none so blind as.....................Stevie Wonder.
Children should be seen and not................spanked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed..................get new batteries.
When the blind leadeth the blind...............get out of the way.
And the favorite --
Better late than ..............................pregnant.
(This one must know a lot about the facts of life at an early age.)
See you next month. Don't forget to stop by for a spinal checkup and an adjustment. And bring in the family too – for a healthier summer! Want hard copies of this newsletter? Click on the send e-mail button. Oh, they don't have e-mail? Well then stop by the office and we'll give you some for your friends and relatives. Better yet, have them write us and we'll add them to our mailing list.
References
1. Pharmacotherapy. 2000;20:417-422.
2. The Lancet. March 9, 1991;337.
3. Olshansky, SJ, DJ Passaro, RC Hershow, et al. "A potential decline in life expectancy in the United States in the 21st century." New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;352(11):1138-1145.
4. Wolsko, PM, DM Eisenberg, RB Davis, et al. "Patterns and perceptions of care for treatment of back and neck pain: results of a national survey." Spine. 2003:28:292-298.
5. Shealy, CN. "Percutaneous radiofrequency denervation of spinal facets: treatment for chronic back pain and sciatica." J of Neurosurgery. 1975;43:448-451.
6. Shealy, CN. "Chronic pain management." Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Jan. 2005; 22-23.
7. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. October 18, 2004.
8. Quinn, M. "The 25 top jobs for 2005." Fast Company, Feb. 16, 2005. www.fastcompany.com/articles/2005/01/top-jobs-main.html
Dr. Rick Allen is a chiropractor, massage therapist and dance student in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Rick welcomes your questions and suggestions for future articles. However, he cannot make specific diagnoses or treatment recommendations unless you visit him in person. He can be reached by phone: 503-257-1324, mail: 221 NE 78th Avenue, Portland, OR 97213, e-mail or World Wide Web: www.CascadeWellnessClinic.com
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