Next to the common cold, ear infections are the most diagnosed childhood illness in the United States. Ear infections are caused by a virus or bacteria growing in mucus blockage of the Eustachian Tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. The Eustachian Tube equalizes air pressure and allows for drainage of mucus from the middle ear to the throat. When one has a cold or allergy affecting the nasal passages, the Eustachian tube can become blocked by mucus within the tube. The blockage allows fluid to build up within the middle ear. Bacteria or viruses that have entered the middle ear through the Eustachian tube can get trapped, breed, and lead to an ear infection.
Children develop ear infections more frequently in the first 2-4 years for several reasons:
-Their Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than those of adults, which allow bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle ear more easily. Their tubes are also narrower and softer, which makes them more prone to blockage.
-The adenoids, gland-like structures located in the back of the upper throat near the Eustachian tubes, are large in children and can interfere with the opening of the Eustachian tubes.
It is believed that the birthing process and recurrent ear infections are linked. In the birth canal, neck vertebrae can become misaligned, disrupting nerve function, which can affect the Eustachian tube. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics indicates that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. Out of 332 children with chronic ear infections that were treated with chiropractic adjustments, 80% did not develop another ear infection in the six-month period following their initial visits with an adjustment every four to six weeks.
Symptoms of ear infections:
Ear pain
Tugging of ear in younger children
Irritable cry of young children
Decrease of eating
Trouble sleeping
Drainage of fluid from ear
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Danger With "Life-Saving" Vitamin K Shots
Part of the midwife’s or doctor's to-do-list when your baby is born is an injection of Vitamin K. Vitamin K is used in order to help with blood clotting abilities. This mostly pertains to prevent the very rare incidence of bleeding in the brain (risk 1 in every 10,000 live births). This seems pretty reasonable, right? This shot prevents a deadly thing from happening, but is it really safe?
The Vitamin K that is in these shots is not natural, like the kind found in leafy greens, but is synthetic, with the generic name phytonadione. Synthetic vitamins should be avoided, as they cause imbalances in the body. For example, synthetic Vitamin A causes birth defects that natural Vitamin A prevents!
How much Vitamin K is actually in the shot? The recommended dosage for infants is 10-20 micrograms per day, but the amount of Vitamin K administered to the infants is 0.5 to 1.0 mg, the national standard mandated by most states for US hospitals is over 100 times the infant’s RDA of this nutrient. Studies have also linked large amounts of Vitamin K with childhood cancers and leukemia.
The medical sciences do not understand the metabolic fate of Vitamin K. Little to no traces of Vitamin K show in urine or bile. Since Vitamin K is fat soluble, it has the ability to accumulate in body tissues. A newborn’s liver is not fully developed until 3-4 days after birth, so the child cannot metabolize Vitamin K along with the following chemicals that are in the injection:
-Phenol (carbolic acid-derived from coal tar)
-Benzyl Alcohol (preservative)
-Propylene Glycol (better known as antifreeze)
-Acetic Acid (astringent, antimicrobial agent)
-Hydrochloric Acid
-Lecithin
-Castor Oil
Instead of injecting your children with a potentially harmful cocktail of chemicals, take a natural Vitamin K supplement and make sure to eat lots of food rich in Vitamin K, like spinach, parsley, and kale, especially before giving birth. A liquid supplement administered orally to the child consistently after birth is a great alternative, as well.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Meniere's Disease
Meniere’s disease was first identified as a specific ailment back in 1891 by Prosper Meniere, a 19th century French doctor who served as chief physician at an institute for deaf-mutes. His studies there led to his specialization in diseases of the ear.
Meniere’s disease, or MD, is thought to affect one in 1,000 people, or about one-tenth of one percent of the world’s population. Both sexes are affected equally, but the white race seems to be affected more than any other. MD’s onset usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 50. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease involve abnormal sensory perceptions, such as dizziness (vertigo) and hearing loss or pressure in one ear (tinnitus).
In this particular case study of a 40-year-old female, the patient had been diagnosed with MD and had a 3-month history of vertigo, or dizziness, and a 16-month history of tinnitus in her left ear. She also showed a low frequency of hearing loss. According to the case study report, which was published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, The patient underwent a course of chiropractic [care] consisting of spinal manipulative therapy in the cervical and thoracic spine, soft-tissue trigger-point therapy, home ice therapy (as needed), and cervical spine rehabilitation exercises. The patient’s initial course of chiropractic care consisted of three visits per week for two weeks. After just two weeks, her tinnitus was resolved and her vertigo was much improved.
The patient continued with chiropractic care on a less frequent maintenance program, and her MD continued to remain under control. This case study represents a very preliminary level of findings, and much more research is needed, but the results should offer some encouragement for people suffering with the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease.
Meniere’s disease, or MD, is thought to affect one in 1,000 people, or about one-tenth of one percent of the world’s population. Both sexes are affected equally, but the white race seems to be affected more than any other. MD’s onset usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 50. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease involve abnormal sensory perceptions, such as dizziness (vertigo) and hearing loss or pressure in one ear (tinnitus).
In this particular case study of a 40-year-old female, the patient had been diagnosed with MD and had a 3-month history of vertigo, or dizziness, and a 16-month history of tinnitus in her left ear. She also showed a low frequency of hearing loss. According to the case study report, which was published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, The patient underwent a course of chiropractic [care] consisting of spinal manipulative therapy in the cervical and thoracic spine, soft-tissue trigger-point therapy, home ice therapy (as needed), and cervical spine rehabilitation exercises. The patient’s initial course of chiropractic care consisted of three visits per week for two weeks. After just two weeks, her tinnitus was resolved and her vertigo was much improved.
The patient continued with chiropractic care on a less frequent maintenance program, and her MD continued to remain under control. This case study represents a very preliminary level of findings, and much more research is needed, but the results should offer some encouragement for people suffering with the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
It's Headache Awareness Week!
Headaches are one of the most common health complaints – after all, almost everybody has had headaches at times in their lives. More than 45 million Americans (about 1 in 6) suffer from chronic headaches each year. Twenty-eight million Americans – 13 percent of the population – suffer from migraines, headaches characterized by throbbing head pain often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. What you might not know is that your doctor of chiropractic could help you make that pain go away.
According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), time lost from work and resulting medical expenses due to headaches are estimated to cost American businesses approximately $50 billion per year. Migraine sufferers alone account for more than 157 million workdays lost. In an effort to educate the public about the impact and severity of headache, the NHF has declared June 6-12, 2010, National Headache Awareness Week.
There’s a conception that chiropractic is just for a bad back, but nothing could be further from the truth. I personally have treated many patients suffering from headache pain with great success. Numerous scientific studies also show chiropractic care to be an extremely effective, drug-free way to relieve the pain from chronic headaches.
The Duke [University] Headache Evidence Report found that chiropractic was shown to produce “markedly superior results” over amitriptyline (one of the most commonly prescribed medications for headaches) in the treatment of tension-type headaches. The study also noted that chiropractic produced “sustained improvement in headache frequency and severity” in the treatment of cervicogenic headache (headaches where the primary contributing structural source of the headache is the cervical spine).
“Americans are becoming less and less active, spending more and more time in one fixed position or posture, such as at a desk in front of a computer,” said Dr. Westerbeke. “This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck and upper back, causing the head to ache. Spinal manipulation improves spinal function, alleviating stress on the neuromusculoskeletal system and, in the process, greatly reducing or possibly even eliminating headache pain.”
How Can Headaches Be Prevented?
Muscle-tension headaches can often be avoided by maintaining proper posture and neck movements while performing your normal activities. Dr. Westerbeke, the Michigan Association of Chiropractors, and the American Chiropractic Association recommend the following:
-Avoid slouching
-Avoid reading with your neck bent forward
-Keep your computer monitor at eye level
-Take frequent breaks from reading and working on the computer
-Try a low-fat, high complex carbohydrate diet. A recent study demonstrated that such a diet can dramatically lower the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches.
Avoid the following food “triggers:”
-Caffeine. Foods such as chocolate, coffee, sodas, and cocoa contain high levels of the stimulant.
-High salt or sugar content. These foods may cause migraines, resulting to sensitivity to light, noise, or abrupt movements.
-Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can dehydrate you and cause headache pain.
-High-protein foods, dairy products, red meat, and salty foods can all contribute to headache pain.
-Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, avoid heavy exercise if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches. Engage in walking and low-impact aerobics instead.
-Avoid clenching your teeth.
According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), time lost from work and resulting medical expenses due to headaches are estimated to cost American businesses approximately $50 billion per year. Migraine sufferers alone account for more than 157 million workdays lost. In an effort to educate the public about the impact and severity of headache, the NHF has declared June 6-12, 2010, National Headache Awareness Week.
There’s a conception that chiropractic is just for a bad back, but nothing could be further from the truth. I personally have treated many patients suffering from headache pain with great success. Numerous scientific studies also show chiropractic care to be an extremely effective, drug-free way to relieve the pain from chronic headaches.
The Duke [University] Headache Evidence Report found that chiropractic was shown to produce “markedly superior results” over amitriptyline (one of the most commonly prescribed medications for headaches) in the treatment of tension-type headaches. The study also noted that chiropractic produced “sustained improvement in headache frequency and severity” in the treatment of cervicogenic headache (headaches where the primary contributing structural source of the headache is the cervical spine).
“Americans are becoming less and less active, spending more and more time in one fixed position or posture, such as at a desk in front of a computer,” said Dr. Westerbeke. “This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck and upper back, causing the head to ache. Spinal manipulation improves spinal function, alleviating stress on the neuromusculoskeletal system and, in the process, greatly reducing or possibly even eliminating headache pain.”
How Can Headaches Be Prevented?
Muscle-tension headaches can often be avoided by maintaining proper posture and neck movements while performing your normal activities. Dr. Westerbeke, the Michigan Association of Chiropractors, and the American Chiropractic Association recommend the following:
-Avoid slouching
-Avoid reading with your neck bent forward
-Keep your computer monitor at eye level
-Take frequent breaks from reading and working on the computer
-Try a low-fat, high complex carbohydrate diet. A recent study demonstrated that such a diet can dramatically lower the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches.
Avoid the following food “triggers:”
-Caffeine. Foods such as chocolate, coffee, sodas, and cocoa contain high levels of the stimulant.
-High salt or sugar content. These foods may cause migraines, resulting to sensitivity to light, noise, or abrupt movements.
-Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can dehydrate you and cause headache pain.
-High-protein foods, dairy products, red meat, and salty foods can all contribute to headache pain.
-Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, avoid heavy exercise if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches. Engage in walking and low-impact aerobics instead.
-Avoid clenching your teeth.
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